Abstract
Acute pancreatitis affects around 40 per 100.000 of the general population and 20-30% of attacks are severe. Mortality is usually associated to septic multiorgan dysfunction syndrome caused by secondary infection of pancreatic or peripancreatic necrosis. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is generally based on clinical and laboratory findings. However CT is the imaging technique of choice for detecting complications. Patients with complicated pancreatitis require multiple follow-up examinations. Substitution of US or MRI for CT in certain cases would reduce the radiation dose considerably. Complicated pseudocysts and other pancreatic collections may contain solid debris, which is best depicted by MRI. Abscesses are suggested when gas is present in a pancreatic or peripancreatic collection. MRI can reveal air-fluid levels or large pockets of gas, but CT is more sensitive for small gas collections. US or CT-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic abscesses or infected collections is a useful therapeutic approach in acute cases obviating the need for unnecessary surgery. On the other hand infected necrosis can not be successfully treated percutaneously due to its thicker consistency. In this review, the role of different imaging modalities in the evaluation of post-pancreatitis infection as well as in the treatment planning will be discussed.
Keywords: Pancreatitis, infection, abscess, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets
Title: Imaging Evaluation of Post-Pancreatitis Infection
Volume: 10 Issue: 1
Author(s): Charikleia Triantopoulou, Spiros Delis and Christos Dervenis
Affiliation:
Keywords: Pancreatitis, infection, abscess, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging
Abstract: Acute pancreatitis affects around 40 per 100.000 of the general population and 20-30% of attacks are severe. Mortality is usually associated to septic multiorgan dysfunction syndrome caused by secondary infection of pancreatic or peripancreatic necrosis. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is generally based on clinical and laboratory findings. However CT is the imaging technique of choice for detecting complications. Patients with complicated pancreatitis require multiple follow-up examinations. Substitution of US or MRI for CT in certain cases would reduce the radiation dose considerably. Complicated pseudocysts and other pancreatic collections may contain solid debris, which is best depicted by MRI. Abscesses are suggested when gas is present in a pancreatic or peripancreatic collection. MRI can reveal air-fluid levels or large pockets of gas, but CT is more sensitive for small gas collections. US or CT-guided percutaneous drainage of pancreatic abscesses or infected collections is a useful therapeutic approach in acute cases obviating the need for unnecessary surgery. On the other hand infected necrosis can not be successfully treated percutaneously due to its thicker consistency. In this review, the role of different imaging modalities in the evaluation of post-pancreatitis infection as well as in the treatment planning will be discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Triantopoulou Charikleia, Delis Spiros and Dervenis Christos, Imaging Evaluation of Post-Pancreatitis Infection, Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets 2010; 10 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152610790410873
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152610790410873 |
Print ISSN 1871-5265 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3989 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Adeno-associated Viral Vectors for Correction of Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Progressing Towards Clinical Application
Current Pharmaceutical Design Signal Transduction of the Aging Innate Immune System
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Selective Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors Reduce Amyloid-β Ex Vivo Activation of Peripheral Chemo-cytokines From Alzheimer's Disease Subjects: Exploring the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway
Current Alzheimer Research Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): A Steroid with Multiple Effects. Is there Any Possible Option in the Treatment of Critical illness?
Current Medicinal Chemistry What Restricts the Clinical Use of Nicotinic Acid?
Current Vascular Pharmacology A Systems Biology Consideration of the Vasculopathy of Sickle Cell Anemia: The Need for Multi-Modality Chemo-Prophylaxis
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets The Renin-angiotensin System as a Target of Novel Anticancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Bilirubin Chemistry and Metabolism; Harmful and Protective Aspects
Current Pharmaceutical Design Imaging of Integrins as Biomarkers for Tumor Angiogenesis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Heme Oxygenase-1 in Tumor Biology and Therapy
Current Drug Targets Genetics of the First Seven Proprotein Convertase Enzymes in Health and Disease
Current Genomics Recent Advances in Perioperative Anesthetic Management Update in the Perioperative Support of Patients with Septic Shock and the Effect on Outcomes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Perspectives on Medicinal Properties of Mangiferin
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Macrophage-Assisted Inflammation and Pharmacological Regulation of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway
Current Medicinal Chemistry Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Lessons from the “CAPS Registry”
Current Rheumatology Reviews Allosteric Modulation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: The Concept and Therapeutic Trends
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Immunologic Barriers to Replacing Damaged Organs
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Carbon Nanotubes in the Treatment of Skin Cancers: Safety and Toxic ological Aspects
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Ischemic Colitis: Current Diagnosis and Treatment
Current Drug Targets Progress Towards Liver and Lung-Directed Gene Therapy with Helper- Dependent Adenoviral Vectors
Current Gene Therapy