Valuablitiy of pancreatic elastography with acustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) method in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is a serious condition with severe complications that early diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management is crucial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the applicability of elastography in the diagnosis and clinical prognosis of pancreatitis. Materials and methods: In this study, 108 patients with acute pancreatitis (Group 1) and 50 patients in control group (Group 2) were included. In Group 1, demographic information, vital signs, history of present illness, physical examination, CBC, and biochemical abnormalitites on initial presentation and vital signs, treatment, and complications during follow-up were noted. In addition, pancreatic elastography were also performed within 24 hours of hospital admission. In control group, only pancreatic elastography were evaluated. Results: The mean age in group 1 was 57.89 ± 1.89 (19-90)( female: 79 ( %73), male: 29 (%27)). The etiology of acute pancreatitis was biliary in 79 cases (%73), idiopathic in 24 cases (%22) and hypertriglicerydemia in 5 cases (%4.6).On initial presentation, the average of Ranson score was 1.81±0.129 (0-4). The mean duration of hospital admission was 7.54±0.5 (2-22) days. In 17 patients (%15.7), contrast- enhanced abdomen CT was performed for severe acute pancreatitis. In 9 of 17 patients, different degree of necrosis was detected. During clinical follow-up, complications were developed in 4 patients with hypertriglyceridemia, 8 patients with idiopathic etiology and 1 patient with biliary causes. Only one patient died 1 (%0.9). In control group (group 2), the average age was 47±2.27 ( male: 23, female: 27). In group 1, the ratio of elastograpy showed higher statistically significance than the control group (2.4±0.08 vs 1.26±0.026, p<0.001). The sensivitiy and specificity of elastography were 98% and 100% for cut-off value of 1.64. Conclusion: Pancreatic elastography is an applicable method with high sensivitiy and specificity in diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Keywords: Acute pancreatitis, Pancreatic elastography