Computerized tomography in acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Modern imaging significantly aids pancreatitis diagnosis, particularly for complications.
• Computerized tomography (CT) offers superior sensitivity compared to ultrasonography and pancreatic ductography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of CT in diagnosing pancreatitis and its complications.
• To identify common CT findings in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 214 patients diagnosed with pancreatitis.
• Analysis of CT scans from 60 patients for complications evaluation.

Main Results:

• CT scans were abnormal in 92% of cases, revealing pancreatic enlargement and outline changes in acute pancreatitis.
• Common findings in acute pancreatitis included perirenal fascia thickening, ileus, mesenteric edema, and inflammatory exudate.
• Chronic pancreatitis showed pancreatic enlargement, atrophy, calcification, pseudocysts, and dilated ducts on CT.

Conclusions:

• CT is a sensitive and effective tool for evaluating pancreatitis and its associated complications.
• CT findings provide crucial diagnostic information for both acute and chronic pancreatitis presentations.