Signal heterogeneity in apparent diffusion coefficient map of magnetic resonance imaging in resectable pancreatic cancer: a new prognostic factor for biological borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND

s: This study aimed to identify recurrence and prognostic factors in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) that may define biological borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 162 patients with R/BRPC who underwent upfront surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationship between preoperative factors and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for RPC. The cutoff value for the coefficient of variation of apparent diffusion coefficient (CVADC) on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Surgical outcomes of patients with RPC were stratified by a score, with each independent prognostic factor assigned 1 point. The outcomes of R/BRPC patients were compared according to the score.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 145 had RPC, and 17 had BRPC. In RPC patients, serum CA19-9 >500 U/mL (p = 0.03) and CVADC ≥ 0.1 (p = 0.003) were independent recurrence factors, while serum CA19-9 >500 U/mL (p = 0.03), superior mesenteric vein/portal vein contact <180° (p = 0.03), and CVADC ≥ 0.1 (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors. RPC patients with a score of 0 had significantly better prognoses than those with scores of 1 or 2-3, and BRPC patients (median DFS: 35.0, 9.8, 9.0, and 7.0 months; median OS: 80.7, 26.5, 16.8, and 17.6 months, respectively). No significant difference in prognosis was found between BRPC patients and RPC patients with scores of 1 or 2-3.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CVADC in RPC may be a new recurrence and prognostic factor defining biological BRPC.