Can Ultrasound Scans Detect Pancreatitis?

Can Ultrasound Scans Detect Pancreatitis? A Comprehensive Guide

Several different tests are used to diagnose pancreatitis and one of the main tools is ultrasound. Ultrasound scans use sound waves to create detailed images of the inside of your body. They can detect inflammation and damage caused by pancreatitis.

So, the answer to ‘can an ultrasound scan detect pancreatitis?’ is yes, they may be used if your doctor suspects you have it. Here, we will explore how, as well as the limitations and advantages of ultrasound, and how a private ultrasound compares to other imaging tests.

Understanding pancreatitis and its symptoms

Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas — an organ that sits in the upper part of your abdomen, behind your stomach. Your pancreas makes hormones as well as enzymes that help with digestion.

Pancreatitis can be acute, where it comes on suddenly for a short amount of time, or it can be chronic, where it is a long-term condition.

The cause of acute pancreatitis is not always known, though it can be caused by drinking too much alcohol or having a diet that makes you more likely to develop gallstones, which can then block the bile ducts. Other less common causes include side effects of certain medications, high triglyceride levels, pancreatic cancer and past injuries to the pancreas. Common symptoms used to recognise and diagnose acute pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain (tummy pain), nausea, vomiting and a high temperature (above 38°C).

Chronic pancreatitis refers to permanent damage to your pancreas caused by chronic inflammation. Although in a small number of cases, the cause is unknown, most people develop chronic pancreatitis from drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time.

The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is pain in your abdomen. Pain can be constant or come and go. It can be severe or moderate, like a dull ache. It’s usually more severe after eating and feels better when leaning forward or seated.

Other symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include unintentional weight loss, nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhoea, and poo that smells more than usual and floats. You may also notice that you are thirstier than usual and need to wee more often.

Patients with chronic pancreatitis are also at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Long-term alcohol abuse is a leading cause of chronic pancreatitis and a high risk factor for issues with other organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.

The role of ultrasound in diagnosing pancreatitis

Ultrasound is one of several tests and examinations that may help diagnose pancreatitis.

Getting a diagnosis of pancreatitis starts with telling a doctor about your symptoms, medical history and family history of health conditions. They will perform a physical examination of your tummy, gently feeling for signs of inflammation.

They may also check for signs of liver problems, check your weight and request other tests such as blood tests and stool tests.

Depending on all of the information your doctor gathers, they may recommend that you have an abdominal ultrasound scan.

This scan creates live images of the inside of your body. It allows your doctor to spot changes in the size, structure and texture of your pancreas to determine whether your pancreas is inflamed or damaged. It can also detect gallstones, which can lead to pancreatitis.

How ultrasound technology works

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. These sound waves are released by a handheld ultrasound probe. You won’t be able to hear them as they are beyond the limit of human hearing.

As sound waves pass painlessly into your body, they reflect or bounce back when they encounter a boundary between different tissues or differences in density within a tissue. These are called echoes.

Over 1,000 echoes can be detected by an ultrasound probe in one second, so images of the inside of your body can be created in real-time.

The echoes detected by the ultrasound probe are sent to a computer, where they’re converted into grayscale images that show the different structures in your body.

Comparing ultrasound with other imaging tests

Ultrasound vs Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI scans are used to diagnose pancreatitis as they provide the most detailed images of soft tissues inside the body. MRI creates higher resolution images than an ultrasound, so it’s better at detecting complications due to pancreatitis. However, MRI is more expensive and time-consuming than ultrasound.

MRI uses powerful magnets as well as radio waves to create images of the body. That means it’s not suitable if you have implants made from magnetic metal or a material that’s not MRI-conditional.

Ultrasound vs CT scan

CT scans are routinely used to diagnose pancreatitis and provide higher resolution images than ultrasound. Like MRI, CT is also better at detecting complications caused by pancreatitis, so your doctor may recommend them as further tests if they haven’t been able to confirm a diagnosis.

CT scans are often used to diagnose pancreatic cancer because they can show the pancreas fairly clearly. They can also help show if cancer has spread to organs near the pancreas, as well as to lymph. However, as CT scans use radiation in the form of X-rays, they’re not suitable if you’re pregnant.

Advantages and limitations of ultrasound scans

Ultrasound doesn’t use any radiation or powerful magnets, so it’s safe if you’re pregnant or have metal implants.

It uses a small handheld probe rather than a large machine, so you don’t need to lie in the machine as you do for a CT or MRI scan. This can make the scanning process more comfortable.

An ultrasound scan only takes around 20 minutes, so you won’t need a long hospital stay. You also don’t have to lie completely still, which is necessary for MRI and CT.

However, the image resolution of an abdominal ultrasound is lower than that of an MRI or CT of the abdomen. This means it may not detect the very earliest signs of the disease.

Being overweight or having a lot of gas in your intestines can interfere with the clarity of the ultrasound images. In this case, an endoscopic ultrasound may be more suitable, where your doctor passes a flexible tube down through your mouth. This is however a service we don’t provide currently.

Preparing for an ultrasound scan

If you are having an abdominal ultrasound, your care team will advise you on how long you need to fast before your scan, ie not eating or drinking anything other than water.

You will be advised to wear comfortable clothing so you can easily change into a hospital gown.

You can usually continue to take any medications as normal.

Check the health of your pancreas

Are you concerned about the general health of your pancreas or worried about a family history of pancreatitis? Then get the clarity you need with an ultrasound scan.

You don’t need a referral from a doctor. Self-refer and book your private ultrasound online at any one of Vista Health’s nationwide clinics.