Does Ultrasound have a role in evaluating acute pancreatitis?
In the early and milder forms of pancreatitis, the pancreas may appear normal on US. Alternatively, the pancreas may be obscured by gas from a secondary adynamic ileus in the acute setting. Therefore, the primary role of US in acute pancreatitis is to determine whether or not gallstones or stones in the common bile duct are the cause of pancreatitis. When visible, the sonographic appearance of acute pancreatitis is focal or diffuse hypoechoic enlargement of the pancreas.