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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2013; 19(42): 7247-7257
Published online Nov 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i42.7247
Ultrasonography in diagnosing chronic pancreatitis: New aspects
Georg Dimcevski, Friedemann G Erchinger, Roald Havre, Odd Helge Gilja
Georg Dimcevski, Roald Havre, Odd Helge Gilja, Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
Georg Dimcevski, Friedemann G Erchinger, Odd Helge Gilja, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, 5006 Bergen, Norway
Friedemann G Erchinger, Department of Medicine, Voss Hospital, 5700 Voss, Norway
Roald Havre, Odd Helge Gilja, National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Correspondence to: Georg Dimcevski, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Section Head of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Liesvei 65, 5021 Bergen, Norway. georg.dimcevski@helse-bergen.no
Telephone: +47-41-523556 Fax: +47-55-972950
Received: June 19, 2013
Revised: September 6, 2013
Accepted: September 16, 2013
Published online: November 14, 2013
Processing time: 152 Days and 3.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Pancreatic diseases include acute and chronic inflammatory diseases and neoplastic tumors. It is a clinical challenge to diagnose these patients at an early stage because biochemical and imaging signs may be unspecific and are only evident at an advanced stage of the disease. Advances in pancreatic imaging are important for early detection of pancreatic diseases. Ultrasonography, as a diagnostic tool, has undergone major technical improvements over the last decade. It still is the preferred method for first line imaging, as well as it is increasingly used to clarify findings by others imaging modalities to support decision making.