Multislice Spiral Perfusion Computed Tomography to Assess Pancreatic Vascularity in Mild Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to use perfusion computed tomography to compare pancreatic perfusion in mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) versus normal pancreas. METHODS: This observational study included 39 patients with MAP and 18 patients with normal pancreatic function. Perfusion computed tomography parameters, including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time, and permeability surface area product, were compared. RESULTS: Both serum and urinary amylase levels were significantly higher in patients with MAP than in controls (all Ps < 0.05). Patients with MAP showed significantly lower BF and BV and higher mean transit time and permeability surface area product than the controls (all Ps < 0.05). Correlation analysis on the 39 patients with MAP revealed negative coefficients between serum amylase level and BF and BV values. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic perfusion seems to be poorer, and pancreatic vascular leakage may increase in MAP compared with normally functioned pancreas.