BackgroundChronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by pancreatic fibrosis, in which a epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like process is observed. However, few noninvasive approaches have been reported to evaluate pancreatic fibrosis and EMT in an animal model based on diffusion imaging.PurposeTo evaluate pancreatic fibrosis in CP by conventional diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM), and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and then explore the correlation between diffusion parameters and the EMT markers in an animal model.Study TypeProspective controlled imaging histological correlation.PopulationForty‐five rats with CP induced by injecting dibutyltin dichloride solution and 10 normal rats comprised the control group.Field Strength/Sequence11.7T MR, diffusion imaging with 10 b‐values.AssessmentApparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), IVIM‐associated perfusion fraction (f), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), diffusion coefficient (D), DKI‐associated mean kurtosis (MK), and mean corrected diffusion coefficient (MD) were quantitatively measured and correlated with pancreatic fibrosis stages as well as the EMT markers E‐cadherin and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression. The discriminative performance of diffusion parameters for staging fibrosis was compared.Statistical TestsSpearman's correlation, Student's t‐test, and a receiver operating characteristic curve was conducted for statistical analysis.ResultsADC, D, and MD (r = –0.637, –0.688, and –0.535; P < 0.001) were negatively correlated with pancreatic fibrosis staging, but MK (r = 0.740, P < 0.001) had a positive correlation. ADC, D, MD, and MK were significantly correlated with α‐SMA (r = –0.684, –0.728, –0.627, and 0.721, all P < 0.001), while MK was significantly correlated with E‐cadherin (r = –0.606, P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among ADC (0.797, 0.816, 0.873), D (0.862, 0.810, 0.895), MD (0.767, 0.772, 0.801), and MK (0.836, 0.893, 0.951) for F1 or greater, F2 or greater, and F3 pancreatic fibrosis separately.Data ConclusionADC, D, MD, and MK were helpful for assessing pancreatic fibrosis staging, and these diffusion parameters were also significantly correlated with the expression of EMT markers in pancreatic fibrosis.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy Stage: 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:197–206.