Postoperative changes, complications, and recurrent disease after Whipple's operation: CT features

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Surgical Oncology

Background:

• The Whipple procedure involves resecting the pancreatic head and duodenum, followed by complex reconstructions.
• Indications include periampullary neoplasms, chronic pancreatitis, and trauma.
• Postoperative imaging interpretation is challenging due to anatomical alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the key imaging findings following a Whipple procedure.
• To familiarize readers with postoperative changes, complications, and recurrence patterns on CT.
• To emphasize the importance of understanding these changes for accurate CT interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Review of CT imaging in patients who have undergone Whipple procedures.
• Correlation of imaging findings with surgical anatomy and potential complications.
• Identification of characteristic appearances of postoperative changes and disease recurrence.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of the expected anatomical alterations after Whipple surgery.
• Common postoperative complications and their CT appearances are presented.
• Typical patterns of periampullary tumor recurrence on CT are illustrated.

Conclusions:

• Familiarity with the postoperative anatomy is crucial for interpreting CT scans.
• Recognizing complications and recurrence patterns aids in patient management.
• Accurate CT interpretation is essential for long-term follow-up after Whipple's operation.