Renal fascial thickening in pancreatitis.

The incidence of renal fascial thickening in pancreatic inflammatory disease was evaluated by computed tomography. A total of 71 cases including chemical, acute complicated, and acute and chronic uncomplicated pancreatitis were retrospectively evaluated for thickening of the renal fascia. Renal fascial thickening is demonstrated in the majority of patients with complicated and uncomplicated pancreatitis. It is not demonstrated in cases of chemical pancreatitis. Renal fascial thickening is nonspecific and seen with inflammatory, malignant, and traumatic processes, but it is a valuable adjunctive sign of pancreatic inflammatory disease.