BACKGROUND: The histologic degree of pancreatic fibrosis can be assessed preoperatively by using the time-signal intensity curve (TIC) of the pancreas obtained from dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. STUDY DESIGN: To identify risk factors for postoperative pancreatic anastomotic leakage and to assess the impact of pancreatic TIC on this complication, 89 patients who underwent a pancreatic head resection with an end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy between December 1998 and August 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The pancreatic TIC profiles were classified into 3 types: type I, indicating a normal pancreas without fibrosis; and types II and III indicating fibrotic pancreas. RESULTS: Pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage occurred in 14 patients (16%). In a univariate analysis, pancreatic texture (hard, 3% versus intermediate, 20% versus soft, 23%; p = 0.046), pancreatic duct size (> 3 mm, 8% versus <or= 3 mm, 25%; p = 0.037), and pancreatic TIC (types II, III, 3% versus type I, 25%; p = 0.006) were notably associated with pancreatic anastomotic leakage. In a multivariable analysis, pancreatic TIC (odds ratio [OR], 9.58; 95% CI, 1.1 to 91.7) was the only marked independent predictor of postoperative pancreatic leakage. A subanalysis of 52 patients with type I pancreatic TIC demonstrated hemoglobin A1c (odds ratio, 9.81; 95% CI, 1.2 to 127.9) to be a notable predictor of leakage and pancreatic leakage developed in diabetic patients with a high hemoglobin A1c concentration (> 6.0%) than in those with a normal hemoglobin A1c level. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic TIC from dynamic MRI provides reliable information for predicting risk of pancreatic anastomotic leakage after pancreatic head resection. Especially in patients with type I pancreatic TIC, the presence of uncontrolled diabetes is considered a primary risk factor for postoperative pancreatic leakage.
BACKGROUND: The histologic degree of pancreatic fibrosis can be assessed preoperatively by using the time-signal intensity curve (TIC) of the pancreas obtained from dynamic magnetic resonance imaging. STUDY DESIGN: To identify risk factors for postoperative pancreatic anastomotic leakage and to assess the impact of pancreatic TIC on this complication, 89 patients who underwent a pancreatic head resection with an end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy between December 1998 and August 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The pancreatic TIC profiles were classified into 3 types: type I, indicating a normal pancreas without fibrosis; and types II and III indicating fibrotic pancreas. RESULTS: Pancreaticojejunal anastomotic leakage occurred in 14 patients (16%). In a univariate analysis, pancreatic texture (hard, 3% versus intermediate, 20% versus soft, 23%; p = 0.046), pancreatic duct size (> 3 mm, 8% versus <or= 3 mm, 25%; p = 0.037), and pancreatic TIC (types II, III, 3% versus type I, 25%; p = 0.006) were notably associated with pancreatic anastomotic leakage. In a multivariable analysis, pancreatic TIC (odds ratio [OR], 9.58; 95% CI, 1.1 to 91.7) was the only marked independent predictor of postoperative pancreatic leakage. A subanalysis of 52 patients with type I pancreatic TIC demonstrated hemoglobin A1c (odds ratio, 9.81; 95% CI, 1.2 to 127.9) to be a notable predictor of leakage and pancreatic leakage developed in diabeticpatients with a high hemoglobin A1c concentration (> 6.0%) than in those with a normal hemoglobin A1c level. CONCLUSIONS:Pancreatic TIC from dynamic MRI provides reliable information for predicting risk of pancreatic anastomotic leakage after pancreatic head resection. Especially in patients with type I pancreatic TIC, the presence of uncontrolled diabetes is considered a primary risk factor for postoperative pancreatic leakage.