Pancreas

Question 1

Acute Pancreatitis

Answer 1

Acute inflammation of the pancreas. Causes include; gallstones, alcoholism

Presentation: severe epigastric pain, lipase/ amylase elevation, tender, pain

Main role ultrasound:

• to identify gallstones as a possible cause
• diagnosis of vascular complications, e.g. thrombosis
• identify areas of necrosis which appear as hypoechoic regions
• assessment of clinically similar aetiologies of an acute abdomen

Appearance: decreased echogencitiy, enlargement, heterogenous,

Question 2

Pseudocysts

Answer 2

Known complication of acute pancreatitis. Can be purely cystic, mural irregularity, septations, internal echogenicity because of debris.

Question 3

Chronic pancreatitis

Answer 3

Intermittent pancreatic inflammation with progressive, irreversible damage to the gland.

Appearance; ductal dilation, calcifications.

Question 4

Splenic vein thrombosis

Answer 4

Left sided portal hypertension.