[Echotomography in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases]

ABSTRACT

The diagnostic value of pancreatic echotomography was evaluated through a series of595 pancreatic echo-tomography. The study was performed by means of a normal scanning instrument yielding delayed type images, without grey color scale. Results were classified as technical failures, [generally due to intestinal gas-interposition], accurate diagnosis, dubious, wrong diagnosis, and false positive or false negative results. 7,6% false positive results were registered among 368 patients devoid of pancreatic diseases. Among 227 patients with documented diseases the diagnosis was accurate in 62,5% of cases. This percentage rose to 71,7V% when technical failure were excluded [142 cases from 198], the best score was obtained with pancreatic pseudocysts. A comparison could be drawn between the diagnostic value of both ECT and arteriography in sixty five cases. There was no significant difference between the two methods. On the other hand retrograde wirsungography and ECT appeared to be complementary technics. When associated, these methods allowed the diagnostic accuracy to be 87% of cases. This rate was significantly higher than hese obtained by either ECT or retrograde wirsungography when utilised alone