Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and can range from mild illness to a severe condition with complications.
Typical symptoms include upper abdominal pain that may go through to the back, nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, and feeling very unwell.
Imaging helps when the cause is unclear, when gallstones are suspected, when symptoms are severe, or when doctors need to look for fluid collections, necrosis, or blockage.
Ultrasound and CT can help evaluate gallstones, pancreatic swelling, fluid collections, and complications in selected patients.
Management often includes fluids, pain control, treating the cause, and monitoring for complications.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
