Radiological appearances of acute pancreatitis in children

15 cases of acute pancreatitis presented to the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London and the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital over a 5-year period. The aim of the study was to assess the role of radiology in the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis in children. The radiological findings are varied. Plain abdominal films may be normal or show a localised ileus arousing the suspicion of pancreatitis. Ultrasound was useful, not only in the intial diagnosis, but in the follow-up and detection of complications. CT was valuable in defining collections particularly in the retroperitoneum. ERCP is increasingly being used in both centres to exclude an underlying biliary or pancreatic abnormality. (author). 12 refs.; 8 figs.; 1 tab