An evaluation of echography in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease

SUMMARY In the present study an attempt to evaluate the efficacy of echography as a diagnostic tool has been made. A total of 52 patients (chronic pancreatitis (42); pancreatic cysts (three); and carcinoma of the pancreas (seven)) were studied and the results compared with those from other diagnostic techniques. In 65 7 % of chronic pancreatitis patients, and in all cases of carcinoma of the pancreas, echography provided evidence of pancreatic abnormality but in no case could an un-ambiguous diagnosis of the disease be made. However, in all cases of pancreatic cyst, echography gave precise and unequivocal diagnostic information. There was good agreement between the echographic picture and surgical findings. Cholangiography and duodenography indicated duodenal and choledochal compression in a high proportion of cases in which echography revealed enlarge-ment of the head of the pancreas. It is concluded that echography is a simple, safe, and valuable addition to the techniques available for studying the pancreas. Echography is a fairly recent addition to the methods available for the diagnosis of pancreatic disease and as little work has been reported in this field its diagnostic value has yet to be fully evaluated. The normal pancreas is not always well visualized by echography and it is often difficult to distinguish from the surrounding structure; on the other hand, the diseased pancreas, which is usually enlarged and structurally altered, gives a well-defined picture which may be of great assistance in diagnosi