Review
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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Aug 15, 2014; 5(3): 252-270
Published online Aug 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i3.252
Pancreatitis-imaging approach
Kiran K Busireddy, Mamdoh AlObaidy, Miguel Ramalho, Janaka Kalubowila, Liu Baodong, Ilaria Santagostino, Richard C Semelka
Kiran K Busireddy, Mamdoh AlObaidy, Miguel Ramalho, Janaka Kalubowila, Liu Baodong, Ilaria Santagostino, Richard C Semelka, Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Richard C Semelka, MD, Department of Radiology, University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 7510-2001 Old Clinic Bldg., Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, United States. richsem@med.unc.edu
Telephone: +1-919-9669676 Fax: +1-919-8437147
Received: November 5, 2013
Revised: February 13, 2014
Accepted: May 15, 2014
Published online: August 15, 2014
Processing time: 302 Days and 21.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and staging of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Wider availability and good image quality makes computed tomography (CT) the mostly used imaging technique; however, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers diagnostic capabilities similar to those of CT, with additional intrinsic advantages including lack of ionizing radiation and exquisite soft tissue characterization. This article reviews and illustrates the proposed definitions of the revised Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis. It also describes the spectrum of early and late chronic pancreatitis imaging findings, with special emphasis on the role of CT and MRI.