[Staging of acute pancreatitis: use of computed tomography]

Since CT permits non-invasive imaging of the peripancreatic anatomy, the relationship between early CT findings and objective prognostic signs was evaluated in fifty-five patients with acute pancreatitis. The tomographic severity of pancreatitis was graded in 5 degrees in accordance with classification reported by Hill. An association of CT findings with objective clinical prognostic signs results in more accurate early identification of patients with a high risk of complications. Therefore early CT evaluation of the pancreas is recommended in patients who, upon clinical evaluation, appear to have pancreatitis of moderate or severe degree.