title: Ultrasonography in diagnosing chronic pancreatitis: new aspects.
abstract: The course and outcome is poor for most patients with pancreatic diseases. Advances in pancreatic imaging are important in the detection of pancreatic diseases at early stages. Ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool has made, virtually speaking a technical revolution in medical imaging in the new millennium. It has not only become the preferred method for first line imaging, but also, increasingly to clarify the interpretation of other imaging modalities to obtain efficient clinical decision. We review ultrasonography modalities, focusing on advanced pancreatic imaging and its potential to substantially improve diagnosis of pancreatic diseases at earlier stages. In the first section, we describe scanning techniques and examination protocols. Their consequences for image quality and the ability to obtain complete and detailed visualization of the pancreas are discussed. In the second section we outline ultrasonographic characteristics of pancreatic diseases with emphasis on chronic pancreatitis. Finally, new developments in ultrasonography of the pancreas such as contrast enhanced ultrasound and elastography are enlightened.
authors.affiliation: Georg Dimcevski, Roald Havre, Odd Helge Gilja, Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimcevski
authors.forename: Friedemann G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Erchinger
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Havre
authors.forename: Odd Helge
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Gilja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D019160:Endosonography; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Chronic pancreatitis; Contrast enhanced ultrasonography; Elastography; Medical imaging technique; Pancreas; Strain imaging; Transabdominal ultrasound; Ultrasonography