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Computed tomography findings in pancreas divisum
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
Acta Radiologica (Stockholm, Sweden : 1987)
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Pancreas divisum (PD) diagnosis in patients with abdominal pain showed specific CT findings, including an enlarged pancreatic head and more frequent duct visualization. However, CT is not reliable for grading pancreatitis; endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) remains the gold standard.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Pancreas divisum (PD) is a congenital anomaly of the pancreatic duct system.
- Abdominal pain is a common symptom that can be associated with PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate computed tomography (CT) findings in patients diagnosed with pancreas divisum (PD).
- To compare the diagnostic accuracy of CT with endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) for PD and pancreatitis grading.
Main Methods:
- Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) was performed on 29 patients with abdominal pain to diagnose PD.
- Computed tomography (CT) was used to assess pancreatic gland morphology and compare it with a normal reference group.
- CT grading of pancreatitis was validated against ERP grading.
Main Results:
- Patients with PD exhibited an increased cranio-caudal diameter of the pancreatic head (p<0.001).
- The main pancreatic duct was more frequently visualized in PD patients (p<0.01), along with a higher incidence of pancreatic calcifications (p<0.05).
- CT was found to be unspecific for grading pancreatitis, with findings often reflecting inflammation severity rather than PD itself.
Conclusions:
- CT findings in pancreas divisum are sparse and unspecific, primarily indicating the presence of pancreatitis.
- Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) is confirmed as the gold standard for diagnosing pancreas divisum.