Early computerized tomographic scan in mild pancreatitis may be deceiving: an experience of tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

To assess the justification of Computerized Tomographic [CT] scan for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis at early stage and its impact on mortality and morbidity of patients. It was a retrospective study conducted at Radiology Department Dow University of Health Sciences from April 2009 to August 2011. Patients were diagnosed as acute pancreatitis both clinically and radiologically. Severity of acute pancreatitis was clinically assessed by Ranson's criteria and radiologically by Balthazar CT Grading and CT Severity Index. Fourteen of the total 131 included patients underwent early CT scan at 4-12 hour after start of symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting and were normal radiologically[10.68% out of total 131 patients presented with acute pancreatitis. These patients revisited at 24-36 hours, with severe epigastric pain and on follow-up CT scan on re-admission, two patients showed intra and peripancreatic collections, swollen pancreas with peripancreatic fat necrosis without necrotizing pancreatitis [Balthazar Grade-E] and moderate pancreatitis according to CT Severity Index[four points]; Three patients had 30% pancreatic necrosis with Balthazar grade-E changes and according to CT Severity Index moderate pancreatitis[2+4=6]; Two patients had 30-50% necrosis and rated as Balthazar Grade-E and labeled as severe necrotizing pancreatitis according to CT Severity Index[4+4=8]; while Seven patients showed severe necrotizing pancreatitis with >50% of pancreatic necrosis according to CT Severity Index[6+4] along with Balthazar Grade-E pancreatitis[6+4=10]. Patients with severity index of 10 had 100% mortality. Early CT scan has very little role in diagnosing and determining severity of disease or in predicting prognosis of patients.