DefinePK

Abstract

Abstract


Objective:To determine the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the detection of necrosis in acute pancreatitis by taking surgical findings as the gold standard.

Method: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Radiology and Surgery departments of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, from January 1 to June 30, 2016, and comprised patients of either gender having severe clinical pancreatitis with symptoms lasting >72 hours without showing improvement. Computed tomography scan was performed with slice thickness of 3mm. Multiple detector scan of abdomen with contrast was done. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.

Results: Of the 191 patients, 97 (50.8%) were female, and 129 (67.50%) were aged >40 years, with an overall mean age of 39.65±11.67 years. Mean duration of the symptoms was 85.61±6.41 hours. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan’s sensitivity was 71.4%, specificity 87%, positive predictive value 83.33%, negative predictive value 76.99% and over all diagnostic accuracy was 79.5%.

Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography was found to be high in detecting necrosis in acute pancreatitis cases.

Keywords: Diagnostic accuracy, Necrosis in acute pancreatitis, Contrast enhanced computed tomography, CECT.