Pancreas

A free gallery of high-resolution, ultrasound, color doppler and 3D images

Contents of this page:

Ultrasound images of normal pancreas

Ultrasound images showing age related fatty change of the pancreas

Calcification/ calculi in pancreas

Pseudocyst of the pancreas

Case-2: Pancreatic pseudocyst

Carcinoma of pancreas

Carcinoma of pancreas- case-2

Dilatation of MPD (main pancreatic duct)- complication of acute pancreatitis

Dilated main pancreatic duct due to calculus

Ultrasound images of normal pancreas:

Transverse section of pancreas:

These ultrasound images show the normal pancreas in a young adult. It is seen as a thin strip of tissue, of about the same echogenicity (isoechoic) as the liver, and measures 10 to 14 mm. in thickness at the neck and body.

Ultrasound images showing age related fatty change of the pancreas:

The above sonographic images of the pancreas in a middle aged patient show marked increase in the echogenicity of the pancreas, making it hyperechoic to the liver. This is the result of a combination of age related fatty change within this organ. There is also evidence of fatty change of the liver.

Calcification/ calculi in pancreas:

The above images show both calcification or calculi in the pancreatic body (4 to 7 mm. size) and also hyperechoic pancreatic tissue. This patient is an elderly female with epigastric pain. All ultrasound images by Dr. Joe Antony, MD, India. Machine used here is the Toshiba Nemio XG.

Pseudocyst of the pancreas:

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This patient presented with abdominal pain. Ultrasound images reveal a large cystic collection with thickened and shaggy walls, located anterior to left kidney and in close relation to tail and body of the pancreas. These ultrasound findings suggest a diagnosis of pseudocyst of the pancreas. The pancreas may show calcific lesions (not visualized here) in such cases. Images courtesy of Dr. Gunjan Puri, Surat, India.

Reference: 1) http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2674.htm (free article)

Case-2: Pancreatic pseudocyst:

Transverse section of pancreas: Zoomed view of pancreatic pseudocyst:

Color Doppler image- pseudocyst of pancreas:

This was a young adult female patient. Sonography shows a cystic mass (3.5 x 3.9 cms.) having shaggy, thick walls in relation to the head of the pancreas. Some particulate debris is present in the dependent part of the cystic mass, but septae are absent. Color Doppler images of the cyst reveal absence of color flow within the cyst ruling out a vascular mass. These ultrasound imaging findings favor a diagnosis of pseudocyst of the pancreas. Pseudocysts are the commonest cause of cystic lesions of the pancreas and are formed as a result of extravasation of pancreatic enzymes into the surrounding spaces. These pancreatic enzymes produce strong inflammatory exudative response from the adjacent peritoneal membranes with fluid sealed within a collagenous wall (of the cyst). These ultrasound images are courtesy of Dr. Vikas Shukla, MD, India.

Carcinoma of pancreas:

This elderly female patient presented with obstructive jaundice. Sonography showed intrahepatic biliary duct dilatation with markedly dilated CBD (common bile duct) with a 2 cms. sized hypoechoic mass in the head of the pancreas. Abrupt termination of the CBD at the level of the pancreatic head mass was noted, suggesting that this mass was the cause of the dilated CBD. The main pancreatic duct appeared normal. These ultrasound imaging findings are typical of a pancreatic carcinoma. The main differential diagnoses in such cases are chronic or acute pancreatitis. Ultrasound images of pancreatic carcinoma are courtesy of Dr. Prasenjeet Sngh, MD, India.

References: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/280605-overview

http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/43848b63def9d

Carcinoma of pancreas- case-2:

Color Doppler image of portal vein and CBD: Color Doppler image- dilated intrahepatic biliary tree:

Distended gall bladder: Ultrasound image- mass in head of pancreas:

This was again an elderly female patient who presented with obstructive jaundice of unknown etiology. Sonographic imaging of the liver shows dilated intrahepatic biliary tree with a dilated Common bile duct (13 to 14 mm. in diameter). The color Doppler study of the intrahepatic part of the biliary tree shows the absence of color Doppler signals (absence of color) in the biliary tree as opposed to the color signals in the hepatic and portal vein branches. This is also seen in the common bile duct which also shows no color as opposed to the portal vein which shows intense color. This enables easy identification of the biliary tree from the blood vessels. The reason is because of the sluggish flow of bile in the biliary ducts (with no color signals) as compared to the rapid blood flow within the portal and hepatic veins (producing intense color signals). Ultrasound image of the pancreas shows a hypoechoic mass of 15 mm. in the head of the pancreas with the CBD abruptly terminating at this level. These ultrasound and color Doppler images suggest carcinoma (cancer) of the head of the pancreas with common bile duct obstruction. The commonest malignancy of the pancreas is adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic ducts (90 % of pancreatic cancers). This patient will be further investigated by endoscopic ultrasonography and CT scan imaging. The liver in this patient did not show evidence of metastases.

References: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/370909-overview

Dilatation of MPD (main pancreatic duct)- complication of acute pancreatitis:

Transverse section image of dilated MPD: Ultrasound image- dilated MPD:

This adult patient had a history of acute pancreatitis some time ago. On following up this case, sonography of the pancreas showed a markedly dilated main pancreatic duct (MPD) measuring 15 mm. in width. One of the sequelae of acute/ chronic pancreatitis is fibrosis of part or whole of the pancreas, and resultant obstruction to the pancreatic duct. In the images above, the obstruction to the main pancreatic duct has occurred at the head of pancreas. Such changes in the pancreas are also present in chronic obstructive pancreatitis. Ultrasound images are courtesy of Dr. Prasenjeet Singh, MD, India.

References: Article on pancreatitis- Cleveland clinic

http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/29/4/1003.full (free article and images)

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/371772-overview

Dilated main pancreatic duct due to calculus:

Ultrasound image- dilated pancreatic duct: Calculus in pancreatic duct:

This middle aged lady had h/o dyspepsia for which sonography of the pancreas was done. Ultrasound images show markedly dilated main pancreatic duct (5 mm.) with a calculus (stone) seen as an echogenic nidus in the terminal part of the main pancreatic duct, within the head of pancreas. Pancreatic duct calculi are seen within the main pancreatic duct whilst echogenic foci in the pancreatic gland itself are called calcifications. Both pancreatic calcification and calculi are usually the result of chronic pancreatitis and are more common in alcoholics. Ultrasound images of pancreatic duct calculus are courtesy of Dr. Prasenjeet Singh, MD, India.

References: Article on sonography of chronic pancreatitis

http://www.joplink.net/prev/200509/02.html

http://www.hbpdint.com/upload/PDF/20108410446172943.pdf

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This page was last edited on: Wednesday December 14, 2011 03:24 PM

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