imaging of acute pancreatitis and its complications
TRANSCRIPT
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Imaging of Acute Pancreatitis and its Complications
Rachel Sanford, HMS IIIGillian Lieberman, MD
Core Radiology ClerkshipJanuary 2009
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Learning Objectives
•
Overview of pathophysiology
and etiologies of acute pancreatitis
•
Brief review of pancreatic physiology and anatomy•
Classification of severity of acute pancreatitis–
Ranson’s
Criteria–
APACHE II–
CT Severity Index•
Complications of acute pancreatitis, with emphasis on the appearance of local complications on contrast-
enhanced CT•
Treatment of acute pancreatitis
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Our Patient: E.F.
•
56-year-old man with a history of EtOH
abuse•
Presents with acute onset “stabbing, 10/10”
epigastric
pain that radiates to his back, and nausea and vomiting•
Physical exam reveals tachycardia (P 110), abdomen is moderately distended and tender to palpation with voluntary guarding and without rebounding
•
Liver is enlarged•
Remainder of exam wnl
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Our patient E.F.’s
Lab Data
•
Labs reveal:–
AST 45 (0-40)
–
ALT 16 (0-40)–
Amylase 268 (0-100)
–
Lipase 143 (0-60)–
LDH 226 (0-250)
–
WBC 5.4–
Glu
118
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E.F. is presenting with the typical features seen in acute pancreatitis.
Let’s review some basics about the
pancreas.
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Pathophysiology
of Acute Pancreatitis
•
Acute inflammation of the pancreas caused by early activation of proteolytic
enzymes (trypsin,
phospholipase, chymotrypsin, and elastase) that are normally released in zymogen
form and only activated
once they reach the duodenum•
Leads to auto-digestion of pancreatic tissue, leukocyte chemo-attraction, cytokine release and oxidative stress
•
Acute pancreatitis
is a clinical diagnosis, however, contrast-enhanced CT is the imaging modality of choice if the diagnosis is unclear and/or to assess disease severity and complications
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Pancreatic Anatomy
http://www.hpb.org.uk/benignpan.php?page_id=21
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Pancreatic Physiology
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/22980/68636/Structures-of-the-pancreas-
Acinar-cells-produce-digestive-enzymes-which
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Etiologies of Pancreatitis
•
Alcohol (approx 30% of cases)•
Gallstones (approx 35% of cases)
Common:
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Etiologies of PancreatitisLess Common:
• Metabolic•Hypertriglyceridemia
(TG must be >1000, usually above 4000)
•Hypercalcemia
•Obstruction•Ampullary
or pancreatic tumor
•Pancreas divisum
•Trauma•post-ERCP
•Blunt abdominal trauma
•Drugs•Furosemide, thiazides, sulfa, didanosine, protease inhibitors, estrogen, 6-MP, azathioprine, ACE inhibitors
•Ischemia•Vasculitis, cholesterol emboli, hypotension, shock
•Infection•Echovirus, coxsackievirus, mumps, rubella, EBV, CMV, HIV, HAV, HBV, ascaris
•Familial •Mutations in CFTR, PRSS 1, SPINK 1 genes
•Scorpion sting
•Idiopathic•Up to 20%
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Menu of Tests for Evaluating the Pancreas
•
Abdominal CT with contrast–
Rapid, non-invasive–
The test of choice•
Abdominal MRI–
May show additional details of ducts and soft tissues but not always readily available
•
Abdominal US–
Rapid, non-invasive–
Allows for evaluation of adjacent organs in real time•
ERCP–
Allows for simultaneous intervention–
Can cause pancreatitis•
MRCP–
Non-invasive–
Not associated with an increased incidence in pancreatitis
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Let’s now discuss some methods for assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis.
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At diagnosis At 48 hours
Age >55 Hct
↓
by >10%
WBC >16K BUN ↑
by > 5 mg/dl
Glucose > 200 mg/dl Base deficit > 4 mEq/L
AST >250 U/L Ca < 8 mEq/L
LDH >350 U/L PaO2 < 60 mmHg
Fluid sequestration > 6 L
Ranson’s
Criteria
Ranson’s
Criteria
Number of Criteria
Mortality
≤2 <5%
3-4 15-20%
5-6 40%
≥7 >99%
Ranson
JH. Am J Gastroenterol 1982;77:633
Prognosis
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APACHE II
•Used to monitor disease severity in an ICU setting
•Used for a variety of different illnesses
•Good negative predictive value and modest positive predictive value for predicting severe acute pancreatitis
http://www.e-medtools.com/gadgets.html
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CT Severity Index for Acute PancreatitisCT Grade Description Points
A Normal pancreas 0
B Enlarged pancreas without inflammation 1
C Pancreatic or peripancreatic
inflammation 2
D Single peripancreatic
fluid collection 3
E ≥2 peripancreatic
fluid collections OR gas in the pancreas or retroperitoneum
4
Necrosis Points
< 33% 2
33-50% 4
>50% 6
Total Points Mortality0-3 3%
4-6 6%
7-10 17%
Balthazar EJ. Radiology 1990;174:331
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Let’s look at some examples of the CT Severity Index.
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Companion Patient 1: Grade A Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.
Normal pancreas
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
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Companion Patient 2: Grade B Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Dec; 40(6): 1199-209.
Body and tail of pancreas are enlarged
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
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Companion Patient 3: Grade C Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.
Pancreatic swelling and
peripancreatic
fat stranding
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
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Companion Patient 4: Grade D Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ.
Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.
Fluid collection
next to tail of
pancreas and in
pararenal
space
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
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Companion Patient 5: Grade E Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ.
Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Several large peri-
pancreatic
fluid collections
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Let’s move on to a discussion of the complications of acute pancreatitis and look
at some radiographic examples.
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Complications of Pancreatitis
•
Systemic–
ARDS–
Renal failure–
GI hemorrhage –
DIC
•
Metabolic–
Hypocalcemia–
Hyperglycemia–
Hypertriglyceridemia
•
Local–
Acute fluid collection–
Pseudocyst–
Pneumoperitoneum–
Sterile pancreatic necrosis–
Infected pancreatic necrosis–
Pancreatic abscess –
Splenic
artery aneurym/pseudoaneurysm, splenic
vein thrombosis–
Scarring of pancreatic duct leading to stricture and chronic pancreatitis
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Companion Patient 6: Sterile Pancreatic Necrosis on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Dec; 40(6): 1211-27
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Decreased attenuation
in pancreatic
neck, consistent with sterile necrosis
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Companion Patient 7: Fluid Collection in Lesser Sac on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ.
Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9. C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Partially loculated
fluid
collection
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A partially loculated
fluid collection, such as the one that we see have just seen, may
progress to form a pseudocyst
if it becomes fully encapsulated. Let’s look at an
example.
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Companion Patient 8: Pancreatic Pseudocyst
on Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ.
Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Acute pseudocyst
adjacent to pancreatic
tail
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Companion Patient 9: Hemorrhagic Duodenal Pseudocyst
and Hemoperitoneum
on Abdominal
CT
Balthazar EJ. Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Hemorrhagic pseudocyst
in wall of
duodenum
Blood in peritoneal
cavity
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Companion Patient 9: Perforation of Duodenal Pseudocyst
with Pneumoperitoneum
on
Abdominal CT
Balthazar EJ. Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Perforated hemorrhagic pseudocyst
Free air in abdomen
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Companion Patient 10: Pancreatic abscess on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Well-defined fluid collection containing air and debris,
surrounded by thick enhancing rim, consistent with abscess
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Companion Patient 11: Infected Pancreatic Necrosis on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Debris and gas in an enlarged pancreas,
consistent with infected necrosis
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Companion Patient 12: Splenic
Artery Pseudoaneurysm
on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Circular density in pancreatic bed
with same attenuation as
aorta, consistent with splenic
artery pseudoaneurysm
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Companion Patient 13: Splenic
Vein Thrombosis on Abdominal CT
Saokar
A. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.C+ Coronal Abdominal CT
Absence of enhancement in
splenic
vein, consistent with
thrombosis
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Companion Patient 14: Chronic Pancreatitis on Abdominal CT
Remer EM. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Dec; 40(6): 1229-42, v.
C+ Axial Abdominal CT
Beaded dilatation of
pancreatic duct and many small calcifications,
consistent with chronic
pancreatitis
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Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis
•
Fluid resuscitation, sometimes requiring large volumes•
NGT to ensure gastric decompression•
Patient kept NPO, with parenteral
nutrition if it is anticipated that patient will be NPO for >4 days
•
Analgesia with IV meperidine
or hydromorphone
(avoid morphine due to concern for sphincter of Oddi
spasm)•
Prophylactic systemic antibiotics are of unclear benefit and continue to be controversial; may be used in severe necrotizing pancreatitis
•
ERCP and sphincterotomy
may be helpful in gallstone pancreatitis•
Surgical débridement
is reserved for severe infected necrosis and carries significant mortality if performed in the first few days
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Our patient E.F.’s
Hospital Course
•
Ranson
criteria–
At admission: 1–
At 48 hours:0•
Supportive care included IV fluids, TPN and IV hydromorphone•
He was transitioned to PO analgesics on hospital day 5•
His pain improved and he was discharged on hospital day 6
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Acknowledgements
•
Gillian Lieberman, MD•
Maria Levantakis
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References
1.
Balthazar EJ. Acute pancreatitis: value of CT in establishing prognosis. Radiology 1990;174:331.
2.
Balthazar EJ. MDCT of acute mild (nonnecrotizing) pancreatitis: abdominal complications and fate of fluid collections. Am J Roentgenol. 2008 Mar;190(3):643-9.
3.
Balthazar EJ. Staging of acute pancreatitis. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Dec; 40(6): 1199-209.
4.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/22980/68636/Structures-of-the-pancreas-
Acinar-cells-produce-digestive-enzymes-which
5.
http://www.e-medtools.com/gadgets.html
6.
http://www.hpb.org.uk/benignpan.php?page_id=21
7.
Ranson
JH. Etiological and prognostic factors in human acute pancreatitis: a review. Am J Gastroenterol 1982;77:633
8.
Remer EM. Imaging of chronic pancreatitis. Radiol Clin North Am. 2002 Dec; 40(6): 1229-42, v.
9.
Saokar
A. Cross-sectional imaging in acute pancreatitis. Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May; 45(3):447-60, viii.