1. Recognize the aetiology of acute pancreatitis (AP) in non-indigenous and indigenous populations 2. Apply knowledge of pancreatitis to guide clinical and radiological assessment 3. Compare and contrast the complications of pancreatitis

Between 2006 and 2019, over 200 000 patients were admitted for acute pancreatitis (AP) in Australia. [1] In the general population of Australia, gallstones are the leading cause of acute pancreatitis, followed by alcohol, at a ratio of 2 to 1. [2, 3, 4] However, amongst the indigenous population of Australia, alcohol is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis. [5] Additionally, the age of onset tends to be younger in indigenous individuals, with hereditary pancreatitis being almost 70 times more prevalent. [5, 6] A 2021...

Two weeks prior to this patient's presentation to the emergency department, a routine CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast was performed, as follow up for a known pancreatic pseudocyst. The pseudocyst had developed as a consequence of acute interstitial pancreatitis, secondary to alcohol. This CT scan demonstrated a rim-enhancing lesion, arising from the tail of the pancreas. Note that this lesion is compressing the greater curvature of the stomach. The pancreas at this time enhances homogeneously. There does not appear to be any region of...

Understanding the variation in aetiology between indigenous and non-indigenous populations may allow for more effective risk factor management. Acute pancreatitis is associated with multiple complications resulting in ongoing morbidity and recurrent presentations. As such, patients who suffer from episodes of pancreatitis should be closely followed up, and complications shoulder be investigated for. Although imaging plays a pivotal role in evaluation of disease and complications, cases may remain uncertain, which is why clinical judgement, and a multidisciplinary approach is key.

[1] Raftopulos NL, Torpy DJ, Rushworth RL. Epidemiology of acute pancreatitis in Australia from 2007 – 2019. ANZ J Surg [serial on the Internet] 2022 [cited 2023 Jan29]; 92 (1-2): [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34580986/ [2] Nesvaderani M, Eslick GD, Vagg D, Faraj S, Cox MR. Epidemiology, aetiology and outcomes of acute pancreatitis: A retrospective cohort study. International Journal of Surgery [serial on the Internet] 2015 [cited 2023 Jan15]; 23 (A): [about 19 screens]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919115010730 [3] Nesvaderani M, Eslick GD, Cox MR....