Using pSWE imaging in vivo, we have shown that the pancreas is considerably softer in patients with cystic fibrosis than in a healthy control population.

ObjectiveFor patients with cystic fibrosis, the imaging of the pancreas is of crucial importance for the early detection of pancreatic carcinoma. Comparative studies between Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and sonographic pancreas sonography are not yet available. The aim of the study was to compare MRI, sonography and point-shearwave elastography (pSWE). A total of 19 patients were included (10 male, 9 female; age 29.7 ± 14.3 years) in the study. Ultrasonography with pSWE and contrast enhanced MRI with MRCP were performed.ResultsSignificant differences between measurements of pancreatic body were registered in MRI with 1.4 ± 0.6 cm vs 1.0 ± 0.4 cm in ultrasound (p = 0.049), however not for pancreatic head and tail. In 10/19 patients (52.6%) pancreatic parenchyma did not show in MRI because of complete lipomatous transformation, but could be detected in ultrasound. pSWE-values showed no significant differences between the full and partial fatty transformation in pancreatic head (p = 0.968), body (p = 0.657) and tail (p = 0.840). pSWE-values did not correlate with measured signal intensity in T1w flash (p = 0.930, r = 0.025) and T2w HASTE sequences (p = 0.152, r = − 0.375). In patients with CF ultrasound is superior to MRI for displaying full fibro-fatty parenchymal transformation, pancreatic duct. Ultrasound elastography did not provide additional clinical relevant information.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4193-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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