Ultrasound of the pancreas
Pancreas( pancreas) is in the rear left part of the abdomen, partially closed stomach, small bowel and transverse colon.
To detect abnormalities in the work of the organ and diagnose the diagnosis, ultrasound is the most effective, simple and often used method.
Structure and function of total pancreatic length of 15-22 cm, the width and the thickness depend on a portion thereof, in an adult it weighs 80-100 m, and in the newborn child are 3 c. The gland is formed by the head, body and tail.
RV performs external and internal functions:
- endocrine( internal) activity - production of insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide;
- exogenous( external) function - the synthesis of pancreatic juice for digestion.
Ultrasound examination of the prostate can identify, clarify, confirm or deny the presence of a disease. Preparation for ultrasound requires compliance with certain rules and it is necessary to start preparing for it within a few days.
When do research
addition to the patient's complaints of pain in the left upper quadrant ultrasound( sonography) of the pancreas is assigned if there are:
- recurrent pain in the upper abdomen;
- suspected of cyst or swelling;
- pain on palpation increased;
- significant weight loss;
- stool disorder, flatulence, nausea, vomiting;
- Acquisition of yellow color by skin integument;
- diagnosed with other methods, including diabetes mellitus.
Sonography
Ultrawave diagnosis is carried out to render shapes, shape, structure and size of the pancreas. Conclusions are made on the basis of the obtained numerical data, as well as images showing organ tissues painted in various shades of gray. The decoding is performed by a sonographer.
Acute pancreatitis
Due to the high pain in acute pancreatitis is first conducted infusion therapy, and only then do an ultrasound. It is best to conduct the procedure on the 2nd or 3rd day of the attack. Depending on the stage of inflammation, a different picture is visible on the ultrasound images:
- I stage - the sizes of the prostate are enlarged, echogenicity - the ability of tissues to reflect the ultrasound is reduced, the outlines are blurred, uneven, the virsung duct is enlarged;
- II stage - echogenicity of some sites is sharply reduced due to possible formations of cysts and abscesses;
- III stage - the organ looks loose, has irregular contours, its visualization is difficult.
In acute pancreatitis, repeated ultrasound is used to monitor the progression of the disease, and ongoing infusion therapy can improve the visibility of the pancreas.
Chronic pancreatitis
Study by echovolines is not determinative in chronic pancreatitis, but it can show that:
- echogenicity of the pancreas is unevenly increased;
- the virsunga duct is unevenly expanded and it has stones;
- RV sizes enlarged with edema or decreased with atrophy;
- the contour became uneven with appearances of notches.
The results of ultrasound are an auxiliary tool, supplementing the general picture of symptoms and manifestations in chronic pancreatitis.
Benign tumors
It is difficult to see ultrasound of a pancreatic tumor of a benign nature. Their structure is usually uniform, similar to the prostate tissue, the boundaries are even, and the echogenicity is reduced or locally increased depending on the type of tumor.
Malignant tumors
Large cancers are detected by ultrasound on uneven and fuzzy RV contours. Echogenicity is reduced in 80%, increased in 5% and is mixed in 15% of cases, the virsunga duct is often expanded( the norm is no more than 2 mm).If the size of the lesions is less than 1.5 cm, they do not change the contours of the pancreas. Echography often shows lesions by metastases of neighboring organs along with enlarged lymph nodes.
Diabetes mellitus
When carrying out echography in patients with diabetes mellitus, the increased echogenicity of the pancreas is noted, its boundaries look blurred and uneven.
Conducting Endosynthesis
Endoscopic examination of the RV, or endoscopy, consists of insertion into the stomach and then the duodenum of the probe with an ultrasound transducer. Immediate proximity of the gland to these organs makes it possible to more accurately study it.
With pancreatitis of both forms, suspicion of cysts, stones and neoplasms of the endoscope gives the most reliable results. Prepare for the procedure in advance.
How to prepare for the echography
Preparation for the study assumes:
- protein-free diet for 2-3 days before the examination;
- refusal to take medication - only life-saving therapy is allowed;
- refusal from smoking and alcohol;
- taking drugs to reduce gas production.
Immediately before carrying out the ultrasound it is necessary:
- to take laxative the morning of the day before the procedure;
- to have dinner no later than 19.00;
- in the morning on the day of the study to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, taking medication.
In the case of acute pancreatitis, infusion therapy is first performed.
How to prepare for endosynthesis
Preliminary preparation for endoscopy is carried out as in the case of conventional echography.
Endoscopic ultrasound examination is done strictly on an empty stomach. An hour and a half before the procedure, the patient is medicated to reduce nervous excitement.
Ultrasound in children
The indications and preparation of the child for the procedure are the same as for adults. Parents should explain how the research is going on, why it is carried out, that is, it is important to ensure the peace of the child. The examination takes about 15 minutes.
The decryption of the data takes into account the age, height, weight and sex of the child. It is possible to conduct an endoscopic ultrasound.
What does the data of the echography mean?
The tabular normal sizes of the parts of the prostate, comparison with the echogenicity of the liver( the norm is their equal value) and the comparison of the results relative to each other are used to evaluate the data obtained after the ultrasound diagnosis.
A detailed transcript is made by a sonographer, and then entered into the patient's card.
For an adult human, the norm of the size of the parts of the prostate( thickness, mm) is given in the table:
| Head of the prostate | Body of the prostate | Tail of the prostate | Virsung duct( width) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 21 | 35 | 2 |
The norm for the sizes of the child's pancreas( thickness, mm) depending on the growth( cm) of the child:
| growth | head | body | Tail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-109 | 15-16 | 10-11 | 17-18 |
| 110-129 | 17-18 | 11-11,5 | 20 |
| 130-149 | 19 | 12 | 21 |
| 150-169 | 20 | 12,5 | 21-22 |
additionOf numerical values, the decoding of ultrasound includes a description of the structure and contours of the organ.
Who should I contact for examination?
Diseases of the prostate are treated by an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist. Doctors explain how to prepare for the procedure of ultrasound, they also get a transcript of the survey to evaluate the results. Research by ultrasound is free of charge, if the patient has a referral from the treating physician. The cost of US-diagnostics without referral is about 1500 rubles.
Timely made ultrasound diagnosis or endoscopy and the right therapy can save the health of the pancreas or slow down the negative processes occurring in it.
