A 55-year-old man on ICU has severe acute pancreatitis. His CT severity index (Balthazar) is grade E with 50% necrosis. He is on day 7 with persisten...

Question

A 55-year-old man on ICU has severe acute pancreatitis. His CT severity index (Balthazar) is grade E with >50% necrosis. He is on day 7 with persistent SIRS, rising CRP, and new organ failure. Infected necrosis is suspected. What imaging finding on CT would confirm infected necrosis?

Accepted Answer

Gas bubbles within the peripancreatic or pancreatic necrotic collection - this is pathognomonic of infected necrosis

Answer

Pancreatic calcification

Answer

Pancreatic duct dilatation

Answer

Ascites alone

Answer

Normal pancreatic enhancement

uk-fficm MCQ (SBA): Infected Pancreatic Necrosis

A 55-year-old man on ICU has severe acute pancreatitis. His CT severity index (Balthazar) is grade E with >50% necrosis. He is on day 7 with persistent SIRS, rising CRP, and new organ failure. Infected necrosis is suspected. What imaging finding on CT would confirm infected necrosis?