title: MR imaging of acute pancreatitis: correlation of abdominal wall edema with severity scores.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study MRI findings of abdominal wall edema (AWE) in acute pancreatitis as well as correlations between AWE and the severity of acute pancreatitis according to the MR severity index (MRSI) and the Acute Physiology And Chronic Healthy Evaluation III (APACHE III) scoring system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 160 patients with AP admitted to our institution between December 2009 and March 2011 were included in this study. MRI was performed within 48 h after admission. MRI findings of acute pancreatitis were noted, including AWE on the MRI. The abdominal wall area was divided into quarters, and each area involved was recorded as 1 point to score the severity of AWE. The severity of acute pancreatitis was studied using both the MRSI and the APACHE III scoring system. Spearman correlation of AWE with the MRSI and the APACHE III scoring system was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 160 patients with acute pancreatitis, 53.8% had AWE on MRI. The average AWE score was 1.2±1.4 points. The prevalence of AWE was 30.5%, 64.5% and 100% in mild, moderate and severe AP, respectively, according to MRSI. AWE on MRI was correlated with MRSI scores (r=0.441, p=0.000). According to APACHE III scores, the averages were 2.0±1.1 and 2.6±1.1 points in mild AP and severe AP, respectively (P=0.016). AWE was slightly correlated with the APACHE III scores (r=0.222, p=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AWE on MRI in acute pancreatitis is common, which may be a supplementary indicator in determining the severity of AP.
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Key laboratory of Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, China. yangru0904@163.com
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zong Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Xiao Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiao Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi Song
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult