title: Sonographic findings of pancreatitis in children.
abstract: The size and echogenicity of the pancreas was evaluated with real-time and static sonography and correlated in an independent and retrospective manner with amylase values in 17 asymptomatic children, 19 children with acute pancreatitis, and 2 with chronic pancreatitis. A ratio of the greatest anteroposterior dimension of the body of the pancreas relative to the transverse lumbar vertebral body measurement (P/V ratio) greater than 0.3, when associated with a hypoechoic pancreatic parenchyma, was indicative of acute pancreatitis. The predictive value of a positive sonogram was found to be 0.93, whereas the predictive value of a negative sonogram was 0.78. These data indicate that sonography is a useful adjunct to amylase determinations in the detection of pancreatitis in children.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography