BACKGROUND: Perfusion assessment of the pancreas is challenging and poorly evaluated. Pancreatic affection is a prevalent feature of cystic fibrosis (CF). Little is known about pancreatic perfusion in CF. We aimed to assess pancreatic perfusion by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) analysed in the bolus-and-burst model and software. METHODS: We performed contrast enhanced ultrasound of the pancreas in 25 CF patients and 20 healthy controls. Perfusion data was analysed using a dedicated perfusion model providing the mean capillary transit-time (MTT), blood flow (BF) and blood-volume (BV). CF patients were divided according to exocrine function. RESULTS: The pancreas insufficient CF patients had longer MTT (p ≤ 0.002), lower BF (p < 0.001) and lower BV (p < 0.05) compared to the healthy controls and sufficient CF patients. Interrater analysis showed substantial agreement for the analysis of mean transit time. CONCLUSION: The bolus-and-burst method used on pancreatic CEUS-examinations demonstrates reduced perfusion in CF patients with pancreas affection. The perfusion model and software requires further optimization and standardization to be clinical applicable for the assessment of pancreatic perfusion.

• Keywords
• Contrast enhanced ultrasound, Cystic fibrosis, Exocrine pancreatic function, Pancreas, Perfusion,
• MeSH
• Cystic Fibrosis diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Contrast Media MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Pancreas diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Perfusion Imaging methods   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Software MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Ultrasonography MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Observational Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Contrast Media MeSH