Pancreatic cancer detection with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a prospective controlled study

Summary Background Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive and increasingly used procedure in cases involving biliary and pancreatic diseases. However, the accuracy of MRCP in differential diagnosis between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis has never been documented in a large prospective controlled study. Methods 124 patients were recruited for the study, selected from 141 consecutive patients with an average age of 55 years (range 19–80) who presented to our department between February, 1996, and January, 1998, with a strong clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer. MRCP images were interpreted by a radiologist and a gastroenterologist who were unaware…