Paediatric Imaging

Pancreatitis, chronic

acute relapsing pancreatitis from unknown cause may become chronic but fortunately traumatic pancreatitis rarely does. Familial hereditary pancreatitis is an autosomal dominant disorder with variable penetrance in which there is a two generation history of pancreatitis. Calcification is common. The pancreas is atrophic. There may be both exocrine and endocrine manifestations which include steatorrhoea, malabsorption, failure to thrive and diabetes mellitus. Relapsing pancreatitis is also seen in children with duct anomalies, and rarely with hyperparathyroidism primary or hyperlipidemia.

Pancreatic calcification is seen on plain films, ultrasound or CT. The pancreas is small and echogenic on ultrasound and a dilated duct may be visible. On MRI, fibrosis may also be detectable; ERCP findings are dilatation of the pancreatic duct with tortuosity and irregularity of the borders. See pancreatitis chronic

HC