Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Acute Pancreatitis – Why
Imaging is our Friend
Matthew Lewis HMS IV
Gillian Lieberman, MD July 25, 2005
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
The Patient!
H.S. is a 43 y.o. male presenting with
intense abdominal pain and several
episodes of emesis
PE reveals distressed, obese man with
significant epigastric tenderness radiating
to back
Lab studies show elevated serum amylase,
elevated serum lipase, WBC of 17,000,
glucose of 220, LDH of 330
What is our next step?
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
For New Pathway students
yalenewhavenhealth.org/.../ medical/hw/n2192.jpg
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Basic Anatomy
http://www.cosmovisions.com/pancreas.jpg
Important structures?
http://pathology2.jhu.edu/pancreas/images/shape.gif
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
CT Anatomy
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2codeblueblog.blogs.com/.../ normal_pancreas.jpg
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
www.bmb.leeds.ac.uk/.../ practic/anat/Image42.jpg
Which spaces are most frequently involved in
pancreatic fluid collections?
codeblueblog.blogs.com/.../ normal_pancreas.jpg
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
To image or not to image…
Pancreatitis is a clinical diagnosis -- why
image?
Confirmation of diagnosis
Evaluation of severity and complications
– Contrast enables assessment of perfusion and
allows for estimation of necrosis
– Enables detection and delineation of pancreatic
fluid collections (size, location, contents,
suitability for drainage)
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Modality Options
Ultrasound
• Often difficult to visualize the pancreas
during acute phase of pancreatitis due to
illeus
• May be useful in following
complications of pancreatitis during
convalescent phase
• Evolution of fluid collections
• Areas of arterial or portal thrombosis
via Doppler
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Sample Image – U/S
www.bchsys.org/.../ ImagingAbUltrasound.htm
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
MRI
Strengths:
– Just as effective as CT in detailing necrosis and the site
and character of fluid collections. May be better than
CT at imaging internal consistency and drainability of
collections
– No iodinated contrast or radiation
Weaknesses:
– CT more accessible, cheaper
– CT more sensitive for small gas bubbles, calcifications
– CT more conducive to insertion and monitoring of
drainage devices
MRI with increasing use in chronic pancreatitis and
pancreatic adenocancer
Modality Options
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Modality Options
CT: Gold standard for evaluation of pancreatitis
Spiral CT with contrast preferable study
Strengths:
– Accessibility, cost, speed, detail, staging
– Compatible with intervention
Weaknesses:
– Iodinated Contrast (some studies suggest worsens
pancreatitis)
– Radiation load
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
CT severity Index
Inflammatory process: Score:
A: Normal Pancreas 0
B: Pancreatic enlargement 1
C: Inflammation or peripancreatic fat stranding 2
D: Single peripancreatic fluid collection 3
E: Two or more fluid collections or retroperitoneal air 4
Gland Necrosis:
1)No necrosis 0
2) <30% 2
3) 30-50% 4
4) >50% 6
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Early Pancreatitis
What’s the Grade?
Courtesy Dr. Anne Kim
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
CTSI and outcome
CTSI 0-3:
– 3% Mortality
– 8% Morbidity
CTSI 7-10:
– 17% Mortality
– 92% Morbidity
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Pitfalls in staging
1. Necrosis takes 2-3 days to be evident on
scan
2. Sensitivity in detecting necrosis
proportional to size of necrotic area
3. Difficult to detect retroperitoneal fat
necrosis
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Back to our Patient!
H.S. admitted, treated with IV
fluids
What are early systemic
complications of pancreatitis?
Medical grading systems?
In order to assess severity of H.S.’s
case, CT is performed…
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
H.S. first scan
Courtesy Dr. Alice Fisher
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Complications I
Pancreatic necrosis:
>80% of deaths occur in patients with necrosis
– Mortality Dependent on extent of parenchymal injury
– Appears as areas of decreased attenuation
– Occurs in 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis
Infection occurs in 5-10% of pts with necrosis --
– May see gas bubbles
– Common organisms?
– Requires aggressive management
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Complications II
Pancreatic Abscess
Poorly encapsulated collection of pus
– 3% of cases
– Appears as low-attenuated fluid collections +/-
the presence of air
– Diagnosis confirmed with FNA
Treatment and course differ from infected
fat necrosis
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Several weeks later…
Courtesy Dr. Alice Fisher
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Complications III
Pseudocysts: encapsulated pancreatic fluid
collections
Failure of resorption pancreatic secretions,
presence of communicating tracts
– Develop >4 months post acute
– Often develop from resolving aseptic necrosis
– Surgical or percutaneous drainage indicated for cyst
larger than 5cm, older than 6 weeks, enlarging cysts, or
symptomatic (painful, gastric or bilary outlet
obstruction)
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Other Complications
GI and biliary complications
– Sinus tract formation, fistulas, colonic spasm
Solid organ involvement
– Splenic infarcts, hemorrhage, jaundice
Vascular complications
– Thrombosis, hemorrhage
Ascites
– Transient vs. pancreactic ascites
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Things aren’t looking good…
Courtesy Dr. Alice Fisher
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Ascites
Courtesy Dr. Vassilios Raptopoulos
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Percutaneous drainage
Require drainage if:
– Symptomatic
– >5 cm
Retroperitoneal, trans-gastric, trans-hepatic
routes all shown to be effective
Aspiration
– Most do not recur (if do: catheter placement)
– Analysis of fluid if diagnosis is in doubt
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Status post drainage
Courtesy Dr. Alice Fisher
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Homer finds relief
Following drainage, H.S.
feels better, but a catheter
is left in place to allow for
continual drainage
Fluid accumulation shows
no signs of infection
following labs
Will H.S. need surgery?
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Points to Remember
Imaging of pancreatitis allows for
confirmation of diagnosis and assessment
and grading of complications and severity
Currently, CT preferred imaging modality
Pancreatic Necrosis evident on CT and
strong indicator of outcome
CT guided drainage is effective treatment
for psuedocysts and fluid collections
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Acknowledgments
Dr. Gillian Lieberman
Dr. Anne Kim
Dr. Vassilios Raptopoulos
Dr. Alice Fisher
Pamela Lepkowski
Clotell Forde
Matthew Lewis, HMSIV
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Resources
Balthazar, E. Staging of acute pancreatitis. Radiol Clin N Am. (2002)
40:1199-1209.
Balthazar, E. Complications of acute pancreatitis CT evaluation.
Radiol Clin N Am. (2002) 40:1211-1227.
Elmas, N. The role of diagnostic radiology in pancreatitis. (2001)
38:120-132.
Keim, V. Diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis. Z.
Gastroenterol. (2005). 43:461-6.
Pamkular, E. MR imaging of the pancreas. Magn Reson Imaging Clin
N Am. (2005). 13: 313-330.
Robinson, A; Sheridan, M. Pancreatitis: CT and MRI. Eur. Radiol.
(2000) 401-408.
Acute Pancreatitis – Why Imaging is our Friend
The Patient!
For New Pathway students
Basic Anatomy
CT Anatomy
Slide Number 6
To image or not to image…
Modality Options
Sample Image – U/S
Modality Options
Modality Options
CT severity Index
Early Pancreatitis
CTSI and outcome
Pitfalls in staging
Back to our Patient!
H.S. first scan
Complications I
Complications II
Several weeks later…
Complications III
Other Complications
Things aren’t looking good…
Ascites
Percutaneous drainage
Status post drainage
Homer finds relief
Points to Remember
Acknowledgments
Resources