Hemorrhagic pancreatitis in a young child following valproic acid therapy. Clinical and ultrasonic assessment.

Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was diagnosed with portable realtime ultrasound in a critically ill 4-year-old child. The ultrasonic features were diffuse pancreatic enlargement, generally and focally increased pancreatic echogenicity, and ascites. Ultrasound was indispensable as a portable noninvasive imaging modality that allowed for rapid and accurate diagnosis.