Acute severe pancreatitis: contrast-enhanced sonography

Early assessment and differentiation of oedematous acute pancreatitis and necrotizing or severe acute pancreatitis allow distinct therapeutic algorithms. Spiral computed tomography is currently considered the gold standard for staging of acute severe pancreatitis. Conventional transabdominal ultrasound plays only a limited role in the staging of acute pancreatitis. The problem is that with this procedure a detection of pancreatic necrosis is difficult because it cannot assess organ perfusion. Through the use of contrast-enhancers, however, even ultrasound can nowadays examine the vascularization behaviour of the pancreas and liver parenchyma in sufficient detail. The aim of the present update article is to explain the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the detection of parenchymal necrosis in patients with acute severe pancreatitis.