Radiological Assessment of Acute Pancreatitis: A Comprehensive Review

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the main causes of emergency room access as well as hospitalization in the Western world. There are many causes of acute inflammation of the pancreas, but up to 90% of cases in Western countries are attributable to biliary lithiasis and chronic alcoholism. AP has a heterogeneous presentation and course and, if most patients present mild forms, 10-30% of patients may present or evolve into severe forms, including infected necrotising pancreatitis or cases with multiple complications and organ failure, requiring prolonged hospitalization and with high mortality rate. It is therefore of paramount importance to identify the severity of AP and the possible cause at an early stage, to carry out appropriate treatment and reduce the risk of complications. In this review, the authors describe the role of diagnostic radiology in the assessment and staging of AP as a tool to optimizing the management, treatment and follow-up of patients. In particular, the role of transabdominal ultrasound (TA-US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is discussed.