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What is the most common ultrasound appearance of the pancreas in mild acute pancreatitis?
Suggested Answer: A
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In mild acute pancreatitis, the pancreas often appears diffusely enlarged and slightly hypoechoic due to edema and inflammation. However, in very early or mild cases, the pancreas may still appear normal. Heterogeneous echotexture may develop in more severe or necrotizing pancreatitis.
According to Rumack's Diagnostic Ultrasound:
''In mild pancreatitis, the pancreas is commonly enlarged and hypoechoic due to inflammatory edema.''
Rumack CM, Wilson SR, Charboneau JW, Levine D. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Elsevier, 2017.
AIUM Practice Parameter for the Performance of an Ultrasound Examination of the Abdomen, 2020.
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19 comments · newest first
SY
Sylvia
12 days ago
Good point, I’ll reconsider my options.
MA
Maddie
17 days ago
I might change my answer to B) Hypoechoic too.
AS
Ashleigh
23 days ago
Same here, but I’ll stick with hypoechoic.
JO
Joana
28 days ago
I feel unsure about this one.
BE
Beata
1 month ago
True, but hypoechoic is more typical in early stages.
SY
Sylvia
1 month ago
Heterogeneous could also be a possibility.
MA
Maddie
1 month ago
But enlarged seems more obvious, right?
AS
Ashleigh
2 months ago
I agree with Beata. Hypoechoic makes sense for mild cases.
JO
Joana
2 months ago
Really? I thought it was A) Enlarged.
BE
Beata
2 months ago
I think it's B) Hypoechoic.
FI
Fidelia
2 months ago
Heterogeneous? That’s a new one for me, didn’t know that!
LO
Lorrie
2 months ago
Really? I always thought it could look normal sometimes.
WI
Wilda
2 months ago
Definitely hypoechoic, I've seen it a lot in my practice.
JO
Joye
3 months ago
I thought it was just enlarged, isn't that common too?
EL
Elvera
3 months ago
It's usually hypoechoic in mild acute pancreatitis.
RO
Rolande
3 months ago
I feel like normal appearance is too simple for mild acute pancreatitis, but I can't remember the specifics.
LE
Lettie
3 months ago
I practiced a question like this, and I think the answer was heterogeneous, but I might be mixing it up with another condition.
MA
Mammie
3 months ago
I remember something about it being hypoechoic, but I can't recall if that's for mild or severe cases.
MA
Marylin
4 months ago
I think the pancreas is usually enlarged in mild acute pancreatitis, but I'm not completely sure.