Abdominal
Radiographs:
Pancreas
Introduction: The normal pancreas is not visualized on abdominal radiographs, thus physiologic changes that occur with pancreatitis produce variable and subtle radiographic changes. Ultrasonography is often of more use in imaging the pancreas than radiography.
Interpretation of Pancreatic Disease: Normally, the right lobe of the pancreas is in close association with the descending duodenum, and the left lobe of the pancreas is immediately caudal to the greater curvature of the stomach. The most common change described with pancreatitis is that of a localized "ground glass appearance" (loss of serosal detail and increased opacity) in the area of the right cranial abdomen and duodenum. This may be due to a localized peritonitis that occurs secondary to pancreatitis. Other changes described include displacement of the proximal descending duodenum ventrally or to the right, and the pylorus of the stomach may be displaced to the left.