Computed tomographic findings of the pancreatitis

ABSTRACT

Computed body tomography has become useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease. It was found to be are liable, often specific, and noninvasive method for detecting pancreatitis and extra-pancreatic extension of the pathology. Of eight hundred and seventy-two cases studied for abdominal pathology with EMI-CT 5005 whole body scanner form Oct. 1977 to August 1980, 21 cases were confirmed to be pancreatitis clinically or operatively. The authors reviewed the CT findings of the above cases and the results were as follows; 1. Among twenty-one cases, the acute pancreatitis was 12 cases and the chronic pancreatitis was 9 cases. The sex ratio as 17 males to females. 2. In acute pancreatitis, diffuse enlargement of pancreas (11/12), focal enlargement (1/12), loss of peripancreatic fat plane (9/12), thickening of anterior of pararenal fascia (6/12), and smooth margin ofpancreas (5/12) were observed. 3. In chronic pancreatitis, parenchymal atrophy (7/9), normal size (2/9), loss of peripancreatic fat plane (3/9), thickening of anterior pararenal fascia (1/9), calcification (1/9), smooth margin (2/9), and serrated margin (6/9) were observed. 4. The complications were associated with 7 cases of acute pancreatitis and 1 case of chronic pancreatitis; pseudocyst (6), abscess (2), and fat necrosis (3), The sites of the pseudocyst were lesser sac (2), anterior pararenal space (2), posterior pararenal space (1), subhepatic region (1), greater omentum (1), and intrapancreatic region (2). All of them were associated with acute pancreatitis except one in chronic pancreatitis.