[Minimum intensity projection image and curved reformation image of the main pancreatic duct obtained by helical CT in patients with main pancreatic duct dilation].

Contrast enhanced CT was performed in seven patients with pancreatic disease (chronic pancreatitis, n = 3; pancreatic head cancer, n = 2; mucin-producing pancreatic tumor, n = 2) who showed dilation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) Minimum intensity projection (Min-IP) images of the pancreas were obtained using multi-projection volume reconstruction (MPVR) software by selecting an oblique slab that contained the entire MPD. Curved reformation (CR) images were obtained using multiplanar reformation (MPR) software by tracing the MPD on the Min-IP image. Both Min-IP images and CR images clearly showed the dilated main pancreatic duct in all seven patients. In three of the seven, obstruction of the MPD in the pancreatic head and the cause of obstruction (tumor mass, n = 2; caliculus, n = 1) were also clearly seen. Min-IP and CR images seem to be useful for the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.