Ultrasound findings of acute pancreatitis in children.

BACKGROUND

Studies systematically documenting US findings in children with acute pancreatitis are limited. Pancreas duct dilation is described as the most reliable finding of acute pancreatitis but this has not been rigorously examined in children.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically document US findings in children with acute pancreatitis and to define interobserver agreement on those findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study we retrospectively reviewed images for all pediatric patients <18 years of age who had been prospectively enrolled in a registry of patients with index admissions for acute pancreatitis between March 2013 and July 2020. Two blinded observers (R1, R2) reviewed the first transabdominal US examination performed within 2 weeks of the pancreatitis attack for each patient.

RESULTS

In 141 children, US was performed at a median of 1 day (interquartile range [IQR]: 0, 1) following acute attack. Thirty-three (23%, R1) and 38 (27%, R2) children had no abnormal findings on US. Peripancreatic edema was the most frequent finding documented by both reviewers (63% R1, 54% R2). The pancreatic duct was visible in only 35% of the children and was dilated in only 12% (R1) and 14% (R2). There was substantial to almost-perfect agreement between reviewers on findings of acute pancreatitis (κ=0.62-1), including duct visibility.

CONCLUSION

Peripancreatic edema was the most frequently identified finding in children with acute pancreatitis, present in up to 63%, with almost perfect interobserver agreement. Duct dilation, cited in the literature as a reliable finding of acute pancreatitis, was rarely identified in our sample.