Necrotizing pancreatitis
Updates to Article Attributes
Necrotising pancreatitis (NP) represents thea severe form of acute pancreatitis. It is considered a subtype of acute pancreatitis as necrosis usually tends to occur early, within the first 24-48 hours, but can also rarely occur with subacute forms.
A key feature is a significant amount of pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue necrosis associated with pancreatitis.
Epidemiology
Around 5-10% of patients with interstitial oedematous pancreatitis (i.e. uncomplicated acute pancreatitis) will develop necrosis 5.
Pathology
Necrotising pancreatitis canmay become infected in up to 40% cases 6, more commonly after the first week.
Radiographic features
NP presents most often as necrosis affecting both the pancreas and peripancreatic tissues. Rarely it will affect only the peripancreatic tissues or pancreas in isolation 5.
CT
Areas of necrosis are seen as non-enhancing low attenuating regions within the pancreas butbest observed if a dual phase pancreatic study is performed.
Foci of gas may also be present in more extreme cases; extraluminal gas is highly suggestive of superimposed infection (see: emphysematous pancreatitis).
Treatment and prognosis
The presence of necrosis implies a poorer prognosis with mortality rates reported up to 14% 3, if sterile. Mortality rates reach 20-30% in infected cases that are drained, either surgically or percutaneously, and about 100% in infected cases without drainage 5.
Practical points
- gas is the hallmark of infection
- acute necrotic collection (less than 4 weeks): sterile or infected
- walled-off necrosis (more than 4 weeks): sterile or infected
-<p><strong>Necrotising pancreatitis (NP)</strong> represents the severe form of <a href="/articles/pancreatitis">pancreatitis</a>. It is considered a subtype of acute pancreatitis as necrosis usually tends to occur early, within the first 24-48 hours, but can also rarely occur with subacute forms.</p><p>A key feature is a significant amount of pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue necrosis associated with pancreatitis.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Around 5-10% of patients with interstitial oedematous pancreatitis (i.e. uncomplicated acute pancreatitis) will develop necrosis <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Necrotising pancreatitis can become infected, more commonly after the first week. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>NP presents most often as necrosis affecting both the pancreas and peripancreatic tissues. Rarely it will affect only the peripancreatic tissues or pancreas in isolation <sup>5</sup>.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Areas of necrosis are seen as non-enhancing low attenuating regions within the pancreas but observed if a dual phase pancreatic study is performed.</p><p>Foci of gas may also be present in more extreme cases; extraluminal gas is highly suggestive of superimposed infection. </p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The presence of necrosis implies a poorer prognosis with mortality rates reported up to 14% <sup>3</sup>, if sterile. Mortality rates reach 20-30% in infected cases that are drained, either surgically or percutaneously, and about 100% in infected cases without drainage <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>Practical points</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Necrotising pancreatitis (NP)</strong> represents a severe form of <a title="Pancreatitis - acute" href="/articles/acute-pancreatitis">acute pancreatitis</a>. It is considered a subtype of acute pancreatitis as necrosis usually tends to occur early, within the first 24-48 hours, but can also rarely occur with subacute forms.</p><p>A key feature is a significant amount of pancreatic and peripancreatic tissue necrosis associated with pancreatitis.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Around 5-10% of patients with interstitial oedematous pancreatitis (i.e. uncomplicated acute pancreatitis) will develop necrosis <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Necrotising pancreatitis may become infected in up to 40% cases <sup>6</sup>, more commonly after the first week. </p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>NP presents most often as necrosis affecting both the pancreas and peripancreatic tissues. Rarely it will affect only the peripancreatic tissues or pancreas in isolation <sup>5</sup>.</p><h5>CT</h5><p>Areas of necrosis are seen as non-enhancing low attenuating regions within the pancreas best observed if a <a title="CT pancreas" href="/articles/ct-pancreas">dual phase pancreatic study</a> is performed.</p><p>Foci of gas may also be present in more extreme cases; extraluminal gas is highly suggestive of superimposed infection (see: <a title="Emphysematous pancreatitis" href="/articles/emphysematous-pancreatitis">emphysematous pancreatitis</a>). </p><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>The presence of necrosis implies a poorer prognosis with mortality rates reported up to 14% <sup>3</sup>, if sterile. Mortality rates reach 20-30% in infected cases that are drained, either surgically or percutaneously, and about 100% in infected cases without drainage <sup>5</sup>. </p><h4>Practical points</h4><ul>
References changed:
- 6. Uhl W, Warshaw A, Imrie C et-al. IAP Guidelines for the Surgical Management of Acute Pancreatitis. (2002) Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.]. 2 (6): 565-73. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000071269">doi:10.1159/000071269</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12435871">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
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