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- Title
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the staging of acute pancreatitis.
- Authors
Ripollés T; Martínez MJ; López E; Castelló I; Delgado F; Ripollés, Tomás; Martínez, María J; López, Estela; Castelló, Inmaculada; Delgado, Fructuoso
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>To determine the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of acute pancreatitis, with computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard.<bold>Methods: </bold>Fifty consecutive patients (mean age 58.4 years; range 23-86 years) with acute pancreatitis underwent prospectively both CT and ultrasonography, including CEUS, within a 24-h interval. Pancreatic vascularisation was evaluated with CEUS after injection of a second-generation US contrast-enhancing agent. Acute pancreatitis severity was graded according to the Balthazar index. The results were compared with CT severity index and clinical outcome by using Spearman's correlation coefficient.<bold>Results: </bold>A significant correlation between CT and CEUS was found for the CT severity index (r = 0.926), extent of necrosis (r = 0.893) and Balthazar grade (r = 0.884). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting severe acute pancreatitis based on CT findings (severity index greater than 3 and/or presence of necrosis) were respectively 91%, 100%, 100% and 83%. A significant correlation between CEUS severity index and clinical variables was found: Ranson score (r = 0.442), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels 48 h after admission (r = 0.385) and length of hospital stay (r = 0.362).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>CEUS is comparable to CT in detecting pancreatic necrosis as well as predicting its clinical course. Therefore, when CT is contraindicated CEUS may be a valid alternative.
- Publication
European Radiology, 2010, Vol 20, Issue 10, p2518
- ISSN
0938-7994
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00330-010-1824-5