Indications for ultrasound of the pancreas

Indications for ultrasound of the pancreas - this is almost all the pathologies of this important organ. Diseases can be clinically obvious, but they can have a hidden, erased symptomatology, so it is so important to conduct an ultrasound examination to clarify the diagnosis and the speedy appointment of a course of therapy. Echography to date is one of the most accessible, painless and informative methods of monitoring the pancreas and an effective diagnostic method for determining its pathologies.

The main indications for ultrasound of the pancreas can be divided into several categories: 

• Persistent, recurrent painful sensations of the upper abdomen - on the left, as well as in the zone of hypochondrium; 
• Symptomatic of concrements, tumor process, cysts; 
• Refinement of the diagnosis after radiograph of the duodenum with results showing a change in the contours of loops and forms; 
• Clarification of the diagnosis and etiology of the disease after a gastroscopic examination showing an anomaly of the posterior region of the stomach; 
• Clarification of the diagnosis after laboratory tests; 
• Painful sensations in the epigastrium when examined by palpation; 
• Gradually decreasing body weight, including a sharp weight loss; 
• Changes in stool (violation of defecation); 
• Clarification of diabetic diagnosis; 
• Jaundice Syndrome.

The main task of conducting a pancreas ultrasound is the primary measurement of the shape, then the size of the organ. Parenchyma is also examined, the presence or absence of tumors is determined. In order for ultrasound to be effective and accurate, a patient needs to follow a certain dietary regimen. For a few days (2-3) you need to eat without overloading the stomach and liver, preferably with porridges. The day before the ultrasound, the patient must clear the intestines, it is better to drink a laxative drug in the morning, preferably on the eve of the procedure it is better not to have supper or the food should be minimal. Dinner, if you can not do without it for therapeutic reasons, should be held no less than 12 hours before the echography. In the morning before the procedure the patient should not take medicines, it is also necessary to exclude food and drink.

Indications for ultrasound of the pancreas, a more detailed description. 

All inflammatory processes in the pancreas are pancreatitis. The acute form of inflammation is clinically manifested by obvious pain sensations in the middle region of the abdomen, in the navel or upper part, more often in the hypochondrium. The disease can be accompanied by nausea, a defecation disorder, vomiting. Echography shows an increased size of the body, puffiness or destruction of the tissue structure. The chronic form often proceeds asymptomatically, if there are clinical manifestations, they are of a short-term nature, but with relapses. Ultrasound examines the compaction of the organ quite accurately, often cysts are found, in the ducts multiple small concretions. 

Oncological processes of the pancreas on the echogram can be visualized variatively depending on the stage. In any case, both tissue structure and density differ sharply from the healthy state of the organ. Ultrasound accurately determines the invasion of the tumor character in the portal vein system, helps to decide on the appropriateness of resection. Ultrasound examination makes it possible to see pathological changes in the lymph nodes, deviations in the parameters of the gland, but does not give specific information about the details of the process. Therefore, tumors should also be diagnosed with CT and other methods of investigation.

Indications for ultrasound of the pancreas suggest the procedure as follows. The patient lies down on the couch, on the abdomen area, a specialist carrying an echogram applies a special gel that improves the sensor's contact with the area under investigation and electrical conductivity. The patient should take a deep breath so that the liver (left lobe) descends deeper into the peritoneum. The entire upper zone, including the side, is subject to inspection. If necessary, due to the anatomical specificity of the pancreas, the patient is sometimes asked to change his posture. In the tactics of conducting an echogram there can be various nuances depending on the weight of the patient's body, the purpose of the study. As a rule, the indications for ultrasound of the pancreas, if we generalize them, are reduced to determining the shape of the organ, all other parameters are secondary. The shape of the organ normally tends to decrease towards the tail. Much less likely to occur cases where the head is thicker, and the tail is smaller than it. Before carrying out the echography of the pancreas (pancreas), it is recommended to examine the aorta, portal veins, that is, to assess the condition of all large peritoneal vessels. The norm of the diameter of the duct (GPP) is from 1 to 3 millimeters. Parenchyma should be a homogeneous structure, visualized by small, frequent signals. Somewhat reduced echogenicity in young children, this is considered a sign of the norm for any indication for the study. The general norms of ultrasound examination are: 

• Standard form of the gland with a decrease in shape towards the tail; 
• A sufficiently clear and even contour drawing; 
• Thickness not exceeding 3-3.5 mm; 
• Uniform ehogennost, hardly above ehogennosti a liver; 
• The main pancreatic duct (GLP) with characteristic flat walls, the diameter does not exceed three millimeters (often not normally visualized at all); 
• The surrounding veins do not squeeze the head of the pancreas.

Indications for ultrasound of the pancreas are aimed at assessing the state of the organ in various projections with the purpose of timely detection of both progressive and chronic diseases. The process itself does not take more than 10-15 minutes, but the value and its informativeness for a complex of diagnostic measures is beyond doubt.

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