CT Assessment of the Inferior Peripancreatic Veins: Clinical Significance

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and clarify the clinical significance of CT scans of the inferior peripancreatic veins.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients with suspected pancreatic disease underwent three-phase helical CT (collimation, 5 mm; reconstruction, 2.5 mm; scan delay, 30, 60, and 150 sec). The frequency of visualization on CT of the anterior and posterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins, inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, and first jejunal trunk was assessed and correlated with angiographic and pathologic findings.

Results: The frequency of visualization of normal inferior peripancreatic veins in patients (n = 22) with a normal portomesenteric vein was 36% for the anteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, 36% for the posteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, 59% for the inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, and 100% for the first jejunal trunk. The smaller inferior peripancreatic veins were frequently not visualized when normal. In patients (n = 13) with pancreatic carcinoma involving the portosuperior mesenteric vein, all of the inferior peripancreatic veins were dilated and easily recognizable. When the tumor did not involve the portosuperior mesenteric vein but did involve the anteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal, posteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal, and inferior pancreaticoduodenal veins (n = 8), some of the other peripancreatic veins (first jejunal trunk, anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal veins, and gastrocolic trunk) were dilated. Dilatation indicated tumor extension to the third portion of the duodenum. In patients (n = 7) with involvement of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, the first jejunal trunk, or both without the involvement of the portosuperior mesenteric vein, dilatation of the other peripancreatic veins (anteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, posteroinferior pancreaticoduodenal vein, anterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein, posterosuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein, and gastrocolic trunk) indicated tumor invasion of only the second portion of the extrapancreatic nerve plexus (n = 4) and tumor invasion of both the second portion of the extrapancreatic nerve and the mesenteric root (n = 3).

Conclusion: Dilatation of peripancreatic veins with nonvisualization of inferior peripancreatic veins suggests tumor invasion of peripancreatic tissue.