AT Trout et al. JPGN 2021; 72: doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002964 Free full text: North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the Society for Pediatric Radiology Joint Position Paper on Noninvasive Imaging of Pediatric Pancreatitis: Literature Summary and Recommendations. Also, I want to give a shout out to Jay Freeman who is one of the authors and a very appreciated colleague.

Some of the recommendations:

• Acute Pancreatitis:
  • Transabdominal ultrasound is recommended as a first-line noninvasive imaging modality for suspected AP
  • If ultrasound is negative for AP and an imaging diagnosis of AP is needed, either CT or MRI is recommended
    • “MRI, particularly MRCP, has also been shown to be more sensitive than CT for biliary etiologies of pancreatitis”
    • “In clinical practice, MRI is often used for assessment and monitoring of late complications of AP, such as fluid collections, to time and guide therapeutic interventions.”
• Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis:
  • MRI is recommended to identify structural or obstructive causes for ARP
• Chronic Pancreatitis:
  • MRI is the recommended modality for imaging of suspected CP
  • When imaging is needed to assess a suspected or known episode of AP in a child with CP, transabdominal ultrasound is the preferred first-line imaging modality

My take: This report provides a great deal of detail regarding the imaging modalities, terminology and diagnostic considerations for pediatric pancreatitis.

Related blog posts:

• Rapid Progression from Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis to Chronic Pancreatitis
• Consensus Pancreatitis Recommendations | gutsandgrowth
• For the pediatric pancreatologists | gutsandgrowth
• Chronic Pancreatitis in Pediatrics -Descriptive Study | gutsandgrowth
• Pancreatitis Update (part 1) | gutsandgrowth
• Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis