Secretin-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (S-MRI) for Pancreatic Cancer Detection

MRI With Secretin Enhancement to Increase Conspicuity of Pancreatic Cancer

The aim of the study is to evaluate the utility of secretin-enhanced MRI (S-MRI) in detecting and measuring pancreatic lesions in patients with known adenocarcinoma or Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) lesions. The hypothesis is that S-MRI is superior to MRI without secretin enhancement (N-MRI) in increasing tumor conspicuity, allowing for improved identification and more accurate measurement of lesions or precursor lesions in the pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is marked by advanced stage at diagnosis and a high mortality rate. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is a cystic lesion that can be potentially cancerous, leading to pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Currently, there is no existing imaging modality that is both sensitive and cost-effective enough in accurately measuring or detecting adenocarcinoma and IPMN. Improving the methods used in identification and localization of this disease is critical.

Secretin, a hormone produced by duodenal mucosal cells increases blood-flow to the pancreas. The investigators' hypothesis is that as secretin increases blood flow to the pancreas, there will be increased conspicuity in areas of dysplasia/cancer where there is minimal blood-flow, enhancing tumor detection. The investigators are conducting a prospective, randomized-control pilot study of thirty subjects with IPMN or pancreatic cancer who are undergoing surgical resection at Columbia University's Pancreas Center. Fifteen subjects will be randomly selected to undergo S-MRI prior to surgery and fifteen subjects will be selected as controls, undergoing MRI without secretin-enhancement and matched for age, sex, race and tumor-type. The investigators will first evaluate if secretin allows for increased tumor conspicuity, enhanced visualization of the lesion, by comparing the calculated tumor conspicuity of S-MRI to N-MRI groups.

The investigators will then assess if S-MRI imaging allows for increased accuracy in lesion measurements by looking at the concordance in measurements between S-MRI and tumor specimens post-resection as compared to the concordance in measurements between N-MRI and tumor specimens post-resection.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Histologically confirmed IPMN/pancreatic adenocarcinoma by biopsy or fine needle or suspected IPMN/pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on imaging
• Scheduled for surgical resection
• Willingness to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including but not limited to implanted metal devices (e.g. pacemaker, berry aneurysm clips, neural stimulator or cochlear implants)
• Unresectable tumor
• Other abdominal neoplasm in addition to neoplasm in pancreas
• Contraindication to surgery, including but not limited to recent myocardial infarction (MI) (within 6 weeks) or poor pulmonary function
• History of sensitivity to secretin
• Pregnancy
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (as per Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation)
• Unwillingness or inability to provide informed consent.