Abstract
Although transabdominal ultrasound (US) of the pancreas has some limitations, such as obesity and overlying bowel gas, which often interfere with visualization of the pancreas, imaging of the pancreas with US is the best initial imaging modality in the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Advances in US equipment and echo-enhancement techniques have improved the evaluation of vascularity in the pancreas. In a recent study, contrast-enhanced ultrasound was reported to be comparable to CT in its capacity to provide precise information about the severity of acute pancreatitis. In chronic pancreatitis, contrast-enhanced ultrasound was reported to be useful in differentiating chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. US has some advantages over CT in being free from ionizing radiation, having a superior cost-benefit ratio, and having a lower toxicity associated with the microbubbles used intravenously as a contrast medium. US will play a more important role in both patients with acute pancreatitis and those with chronic pancreatitis.
