title: Ultrasound echo-intensity predicts severe pancreatic affection in cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic destruction affects the majority of patients with cystic fibrosis. We aimed to relate ultrasound findings to exocrine pancreatic function and cystic fibrosis genotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with cystic fibrosis and a matched group of healthy controls were included. We performed transabdominal ultrasound, and recorded echo intensities of the pancreas and parenchymal characteristics according to endoscopic ultrasound based Rosemont criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 39 patients and 29 healthy controls. The cystic fibrosis patients were grouped according to exocrine pancreatic function; Cystic fibrosis, insufficient (n = 20) and sufficient (n = 19). Echo intensity measures and visual score demonstrated hyper-echogenicity in the pancreas insufficient group compared to the pancreas sufficient groups (p<0.001). Ductal and parenchymal changes were not prevalent in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hyper-echoic pancreas was the most frequent ultrasonographic finding in exocrine pancreas insufficient cystic fibrosis patients. Pancreatic echo levels correlated to pancreatic phenotype.
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Trond
authors: T
authors: Engjom
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Voss Hospital, Voss, Norway.
authors: Friedemann
authors: F
authors: Erchinger
authors: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Birger N
authors: BN
authors: Lærum
authors: Paediatric Department, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Erling
authors: E
authors: Tjora
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Odd H
authors: OH
authors: Gilja
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Dimcevski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator