Monday May 21 , 2012
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Ultrasound - Pancreas

ULTRASOUND - PANCREAS

 Alternative Names:  pancreas ultrasound, pancreas sonography, ultrasound of the pancreas

SCANNING OBSTACLES OF THE PANCREAS

Often you will have problems with bowel gas overlying the pancreas.
Ways to overcome:

  • Inspiration

  • Expiration

  • Distend the abdomen against the probe (ask the patient to push their stomach out as if they are pregnant!)

  • Give the patient an oral waterload (2-3 glasses). The water is used as a window to look through when it is in the stomach and duodenum.

  • Scan with the patient erect.

ULTRASOUND APPEARANCE

Normal appearance is usually homogeneous. It is frequently hyperechoic compared to the liver because of fatty infiltration.

PANCREAS ULTRASOUND SAMPLE PROTOCOL (TYPICALLY)

This sample protocol is meant for educational purposes and the exact technique will depend on the patient's clinical indication for the examination and the radiologist's guidance.

  1. Measure the cross-sectional diameter of the common bile duct at the level of the pancreatic head.

  2. If the pancreatic duct is dilated (>3 mm), measure it short axis.  If you're not sure, measure it.

  3. If there are any masses or cysts, they need 3 dimensional measurements and power doppler.

  4. Head of pancreas - Use both transverse & sagittal probe as the head can be quite long and continue caudally for several centimeters. (Measure)

  5. Body of Pancreas- Transverse probe. Use the splenic vein to help identify the pancreas superficial to this. (Measure)

  6. Tail of pancreas- Start with the probe transverse then angle the heel of the probe cephalad and left as the tail can be sitting up under the spleen. (Measure)

Thus the spleen can be used as a window and a coronal approach can also be utilized.

COMMON PATHOLOGY

  • Adenocarcinoma

  • Pseudocyst

  • Pancreatitis

  • Fatty change

  • Insulinomas

  • Pancreatic artery aneurysm/calcification

  • Cystic fibrosis

  • Congenital cysts

Schedule Your Pancreas Ultrasound Today! 

  • If you are looking for professional radiology services at your imaging site/center, call us at 1-800-626-8315 or contact us for a consultation. 

  • If you live in Los Angeles, Century City, Glendale, Mid-Wilshire and need to schedule a radiology examination such as a MRI, CT Scan, Ultrasound, X ray, or PET scan, contact us to schedule an appointment. 

  • If you are in search of other things, we're surprisingly resourceful!  Call us 1-800-626-8315 or contact us via our contact form.

 
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  • pancreas ultrasound, pancreas sonography, ultrasound of the pancreas
  • Ultrasound of the pancreas informational page including scanning obstacles of the pancreas, ultrasound appearance, and common pathology.
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