Pancreas CT Appearances
Acute Pancreatitis CT Findings
- Focal or diffuse enlargement of the pancreas
- Heterogeneous attenuation
- Poorly defined border
- Hazy pancreatic fat or reticular stranding of fat
- Mild Acute Pancreatitis does not have evidence of necrosis (lack of normal enhancement) while severe Acute Pancreatitis does
- Severe Acute Pancreatitis may have focal fluid collections
Other Information About Acute Pancreatitis
Etiology:
- Excessive alcohol use
- Gallstones
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- Can also be idiopathic
Epidemiology:
- Most common in middle aged patients
- Can occur at any age
Presentation:
- Abdominal pain, particularly postprandial
- Anorexia
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever
Prognosis:
- Most cases (~80%) will resolve completely
- Less commonly, Acute Pancreatitis can cause serious and potentially fatal complications
Related Pearls: Acute Pancreatitis
Related Lectures:
MDCT of Acute Pancreatitis Part 1
MDCT of Acute Pancreatitis Part 2