Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 3, Issue 6 267-272, Copyright © 1984 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Chronic pancreatitis: the diagnostic significance of pancreatic size and echo amplitude
T. H. Shawker, M. Linzer and V. S. Hubbard
Pancreatic size and pancreatic echo amplitude were examined to determine
their value for distinguishing chronic pancreatitis from normal. Using
patients with cystic fibrosis as a model for chronic pancreatitis, a
prospective study was performed comparing 16 patients with this disease and
16 normals. Absolute measurements of the pancreatic body and the ratio of
pancreatic size to vertebral body size were determined. Pancreatic echo
amplitude was both measured clinically from the B-scan and evaluated in a
blind review by seven observers. The pancreases of cystic fibrosis could be
distinguished on the basis of echo amplitude with sensitivity and
specificity of 94 per cent and 100 per cent for direct B-scan echo
amplitude measurements and 74 per cent and 88 per cent for reviewers.
Pancreatic size was of no value as a distinguishing characteristic,
probably because as the diseased pancreas increases in echo amplitude by
fat and fibrous tissue replacement, it blends imperceptibly with the
peripancreatic soft tissues. Measurement of pancreatic size in chronic
pancreatitis is therefore inaccurate and probably overestimated.
