Biomaterial Database

Gray-scale ultrasonic properties of the normal and inflamed pancreas. 1976

B D Doust, and J D Pearce

Eighty-seven examinations of the pancreas in 52 patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis and 31 examinations in 31 normal subjects were reviewed. Demonstration of the portal and splenic veins served as a guidepost to the pancreas. The normal pancreas was indistinguishable from the surrounding tissues in a substantial minority of examinations, and the ultrasonic characteristics of the normal pancreas were quite variable. Acute pancreatitis was found to be characterized by swelling, loss of internal echoes, and loss of distinction between the pancreas and splenic vein. In 50% of patients with chronic inactive pancreatitis, the pancreas could not be identified. Ultrasound should precede endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography whenever a pseudocyst might be present.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008642	Mesenteric Veins	Veins which return blood from the intestines; the inferior mesenteric vein empties into the splenic vein, the superior mesenteric vein joins the splenic vein to form the portal vein.	Mesenteric Vein,Vein, Mesenteric,Veins, Mesenteric
D010179	Pancreas	A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D010182	Pancreatic Diseases	Pathological processes of the PANCREAS.	Disease, Pancreatic,Diseases, Pancreatic,Pancreatic Disease
D011169	Portal Vein	A short thick vein formed by union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein.	Portal Veins,Vein, Portal,Veins, Portal
D003560	Cysts	Any fluid-filled closed cavity or sac that is lined by an EPITHELIUM. Cysts can be of normal, abnormal, non-neoplastic, or neoplastic tissues.	Cyst
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D013162	Splenic Vein	Vein formed by the union (at the hilus of the spleen) of several small veins from the stomach, pancreas, spleen and mesentery.	Splenic Veins,Vein, Splenic,Veins, Splenic
D014159	Transducers	Any device or element which converts an input signal into an output signal of a different form. Examples include the microphone, phonographic pickup, loudspeaker, barometer, photoelectric cell, automobile horn, doorbell, and underwater sound transducer. (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Transducer
D014463	Ultrasonography	The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz.	Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic