Ultrasonography of acute pancreatitis -- an essay in images.

Acute pancreatitis is a relatively frequent disorder with an increased risk potential. Ultrasound may represent the first imaging technique to be used in disease evaluation. The diagnosis is usually made based on the increase in pancreas volume and on the changes in structure detected on the ultrasound examination. The most frequent complications are: local and distal collections, parenchyma necrosis, superinfection and vascular involvement.