Introduction: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is a form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on measuring the random Brownian motion of water molecules within a tissue. The aim of this study was to show the significance of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating pancreatic cystic formations from normal pancreatic parenchyma using MRI 1.5 T.Methods: A total of 52 patients were included in the study (25 with pancreatic cystic formations and 27 with normal MRI findings of the pancreas). DWI technique was used with b values of 0.500 and 1 000 mm2/s at 1.5 T. The signal intensity was measured, as well as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Visual estimation of the signal intensity of detected cystic lesions was performed and compared to the normal appearance of pancreas.Results: The highest signal intensity of the cystic lesions with hyper-signal was observed with DWI b0 value in the pancreatic head (M 185.1 ± 47.205, p 0.05.Conclusions: Differences in signal intensity and ADC values have an important diagnostic value in differentiating the cystic formations from normal pancreatic parenchyma in MRI examination.

Ultrasound device, essentially, consists of a transducer, transmitter pulse generator, compensating amplifiers, the control unit for focusing, digital processors and systems for display. It is used in cases of: abdominal, cardiac, maternity, gynecological, urological and cerebrovascular examination, breast examination, and small pieces of tissue as well as in pediatric and operational review.

Ultrasound devices and methodologies have been continuously evolving and becoming more important as tools in diagnostic medicine. Recently a new ultrasound diagnostic technique has been developed. Named sonoelastography, the technique enables evaluation of tissue elasticity and is based on differences in stiffness (hardness, compressibility, elasticity) of pathological changes and normal adjacent tissue. Sonoelastography (SE) is also known as Real-time tissue elastography (RTE), Real-time sonoelastography (RTSE), Tissue type imaging (TTI) and Ultrasound Strain Imaging Technology. It has been found useful in many medicine � elds and adopted readily by clinicians of different specialties. It gives more information than conventional ultrasound in evaluation of tumors, liver disease, skeletal muscles, rheumatoid nodules and other pathological changes. This review covers the basics of elastography, its applications, instruments, techniques, the scoring system and the indications for elastography. © 2011 University of Sarajevo Faculty of Health Studies