The role of diagnostic radiology in pancreatitis

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 120 - 132
• Main Author: Elmas, Nevra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-05-2001
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Acute pancreatitis; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Chronic Disease; Chronic Pancreatitis; Computed tomography; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pancreas; Pancreatitis - diagnosis; Severity of Illness Index; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Acute pancreatitis; Chronic Pancreatitis; Computed tomography; Pancreas
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0720-048X(01)00297-2

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent inflammatory and necrotic process of pancreas and peripancreatic field. To detect the presence of infected or sterile necrotic components and hemorrhage of the pancreatic paranchyma is important for therapeutic approach. Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by irreversible exocrine dysfunction, progressive loss of pancreatic tissue and morphological changes of the pancreatic canal. Imaging modalities play a primary role in the management of both acute and cronic pancreatitis. CT and MR imaging confirm the diagnosis and detect the severity of disease. In chronic pancreatitis, MRCP after Secretin administration, Spiral CT and endoscopic US seems to replace diagnostic ERCP. However differentiation of pseudotumor of chronic pancreatitis from the pancreatic carcinoma is difficult with either imaging modalities.