The scintigraphic "duodenal cut off sign" in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a dreaded complication of biliary calculus disease, and several radiographic signs have been reported in association with this condition. We report a new sign demonstrated on hepatobiliary scintigraphy, the duodenal cut off sign, seen in a patient being evaluated for stone disease and later found to have acute pancreatitis. Hepatobiliary scans are commonly performed during the initial evaluation of patients with suspected calculus disease, and visualization of this sign may indicate to the clinician that he is dealing with a more serious condition.