Radiology, Vol 158, 625-627, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
Pancreatic insufficiency: role of CT evaluation
WP Shuman, SJ Carter, MA Montana, LA Mack and AA Moss
The medical records of all patients discharged over a 3-year period with a
diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency were reviewed. In some patients,
abdominal radiographs or sonograms provided adequate information. However,
computed tomography (CT) was a key diagnostic tool in understanding the
cause of pancreatic insufficiency in 11 of the 13 patients in whom it was
performed. CT study detected previously undiagnosed carcinoma in one
patient, enabled diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis in five, confirmed
complete surgical removal of the pancreas in two, and--despite optimal use
of contrast material and 5-mm contiguous sections--was unable to detect any
pancreatic tissue in three patients, suggesting complete idiopathic
atrophy. Pancreatic insufficiency is a difficult clinical diagnostic
problem. CT scanning should be employed early if abdominal radiographs or
sonograms do not detect an abnormality.
