Case Report
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2008; 14(35): 5478-5480
Published online Sep 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5478
Acute pancreatitis successfully diagnosed by diffusion-weighted imaging: A case report
Satoshi Shinya, Takamitsu Sasaki, Yoshifumi Nakagawa, Zhang Guiquing, Fumio Yamamoto, Yuichi Yamashita
Satoshi Shinya, Takamitsu Sasaki, Yoshifumi Nakagawa, Zhang Guiquing, Fumio Yamamoto, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yamamoto Memorial Hospital, 88-4 Hachiyagarami, Nirimachi, Imari, Saga 848-0031, Japan
Satoshi Shinya, Takamitsu Sasaki, Yuichi Yamashita, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Nanakuma 7-45-1, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Author contributions: Shinya S wrote the paper and organized the figures and patient data; Sasaki T, Nakagawa Y, Guiquing Z and Yamamoto F helped write, organize and correct the paper; Yamashita Y supervised the writing and organization process.
Correspondence to: Satoshi Shinya, MD, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yamamoto Memorial Hospital, 88-4 Hachiyagarami, Nirimachi, Imari, Saga 848-0031, Japan. shinya-satoshi-rie@lake.ocn.ne.jp
Telephone: +81-955-23-2166 Fax: +81-955-22-4702
Received: October 10, 2007
Revised: January 12, 2008
Accepted: January 19, 2008
Published online: September 21, 2008
Abstract

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an established diagnostic method of acute stroke. The latest advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology have greatly expanded the utility of DWI in the examination of various organs. Recent studies have revealed the usefulness of DWI for imaging of the liver, kidney, ovary, and breast. We report a patient with acute pancreatitis detected by DWI and discussed the efficacy of DWI in diagnosing acute pancreatitis. A 50-year old man presented with a primary complaint of abdominal pain. We performed both DWI and computed tomography (CT) for this patient. The signal intensity in a series of DWI was measured and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated to differentiate inflammation from normal tissue. Two experienced radiologists evaluated the grade of acute pancreatitis by comparing the CT findings. Initially, the pancreas and multiple ascites around the pancreas produced a bright signal and ADC values were reduced on DWI. As the inflammation decreased, the bright signal faded to an iso-signal and the ADC values returned to their normal level. There was no difference in the abilities of DWI and CT images to detect acute pancreatitis. However, our case indicates that DWI can evaluate the manifestations of acute pancreatitis using no enhancement material and has the potential to replace CT as a primary diagnostic strategy for acute pancreatitis.

Keywords: Diffusion-weighted imaging; Apparent diffusion coefficients; Magnetic resonance imaging; Acute pancreatitis