Acute pancreatitis: secondary findings on hepatobiliary scintigraphy

Review of hepatobiliary scintigrams in patients with serologically documented pancreatitis revealed scintigraphic abnormalities in 19 of 21 studies (90%) in 19 patients. Abnormalities included duodenal loop widening (14/21 or 65%) and duodenogastric reflux (10/21 or 48%). Total biliary obstruction was seen in five studies, thereby precluding evaluation of the gastrointestinal phase in these patients. Excluding these, duodenal loop widening and duodenogastric reflux were seen in 88% and 63% of patients respectively. We evaluated three patients in whom initial scans showed obstruction, but repeat examination showed resolution of obstruction following passage of common duct stone, with duodenal loop widening and duodenogastric reflux suggestive of acute pancreatitis. Duodenal loop widening as demonstrated by hepatobiliary scintigraphy is a sign of pancreatic enlargement in acute pancreatitis, whereas duodenogastric reflux appears to be an indirect manifestation of an adjacent inflammatory process.