Pancreatic Injury: Evaluation with Emergency Abdominal US and CT

Objective:To compare emergency ultrasonography (US) with computed tomography (CT) in detection of pancreatic injury from blunt abdominal trauma.Method:US and CT findings of 10 patients with surgical proved pancreatic injury from blunt abdominal trauma were reviewed respectively.Results:In 6 patients diagnosised by US,the direct signs were the focal low-echoic zone,the broken pancreatic contour,pseudocyst.Other 4 patients were misdiagnosised by US.6 patients were examined by CT.In 5 patients diagnosised by CT,including 3 patients misdiagnosised by US,the direct signs were localized hypoattenuating area,mixed attenuation or slightly hyperattenuating lesions,the broken pancreatic contour,hypoattenuating linear findings across the pancreas vertically.The indirect signs were peripancreatic fluid collections,effusion of omental bursa and effusion of abdominal cavity.1 patient was misdiagnosised by CT.Conclusion:Emergency abdominal US can give some help in the first diagnosis of pancreatic injury,while CT can assess pancreatic injury more accurately.