Echographic Study of the Pancreas

ALTHOUGH diagnostic ultrasound has become widely accepted for the evaluation of the abdominal aorta, renal masses, and a host of obstetrical and gynecological conditions, its use in the study of pancreatic disorders is relatively recent. While hypotonic duodenography, radionuclide imaging, retrograde pancreatography, and selective angiography have all advanced our understanding of this inaccessible organ, these studies are costly, sometimes difficult to accomplish and interpret, unsuitable for repeated determinations, and are occasionally accompanied by morbidity. Ultrasound, on the other hand, is simple to perform, carries no morbidity, and is relatively inexpensive. It is therefore the method of choice in screening patients with suspected pancreatic disease and is often helpful in deciding which, if any, of the other studies are most appropriate. Since it can be performed serially, important information regarding the evolution of pancreatic disorders can often be obtained. Although initial results have been encouraging, recent technological improvements in imaging now