Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Abdomen, Pancreas, CT, MR, Ultrasound, Education, Calcifications / Calculi, Cancer, Education and training
Authors:
J. Salvador García, F. Delgado, R. Vila, J. J. Delgado Moraleda, F. brahm, A. T. Vizarreta; Valencia/ES
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-1470
Conclusion
Diagnosing CP can range from routine in those with severe disease and obvious calcifications on CT imaging to elusive in those patients with early changes in CP.
The workup of suspected CP should follow a progressively noninvasive to more invasive STEP-wise approach in a patient with a suspicious clinical presentation and risk factors (Table 1).
CT remains the best initial imaging modality to obtain as it has good sensitivity for severe CP and may obviate the need for other diagnostic tests.
When equivocal,
an MRCP should be obtained for a more detailed evaluation of the both the pancreatic parenchyma and ducts.
If the diagnosis remains in doubt,
EUS should be performed with or without pancreas function testing.
ERCP remains a last-line diagnostic test and seldom should be used outside of therapeutic purposes.