The pancreas is one of the most important internal organs of a person, which is responsible for many processes occurring in the body. When diagnosing her diseases, an ultrasound examination of the organ is considered a widely available method. On ultrasound, a specialist will determine the shape, structure, dimensions, the presence of local or diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the pancreas, as well as in the nearby organs of the abdominal cavity. This diagnostic examination, in conjunction with other studies, will help the doctor to correctly diagnose and prescribe effective treatment therapy.
Diffuse changes in the pancreatic parenchyma
Quite often in the conclusion of an ultrasound examination, the term diffuse pancreatic changes occurs. This is not a doctor's diagnosis, but the result of a survey conducted by him, which indicates that the changes are common in the gland tissues evenly, without local foci indicating the presence of stones, cysts and tumors. Diffuse changes also indicate that the density of the body is uniformly increased or opposite reduced
Sometimes in the ultrasound description the diagnosis is indicated more differentially: diffuse changes in the pancreatic parenchyma. That is, during the diagnostic examination, it was found that changes throughout the glandular tissue of the parenchyma are observed, the cause of which is to be clarified.
The most common causes of diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the pancreas are:
- The acute form of pancreatitis is a serious and rather life-threatening disease that occurs when the outflow of secretion caused by the inflammatory process in the pancreas is violated. These pathological processes are reflected by diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the organ;
- diabetes mellitus. In this disease, the healthy tissue of the pancreas is partially replaced by fat tissue, which on ultrasound is defined as diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the organ;
- chronic pancreatitis, can also cause diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the gland. This form of inflammation of the pancreas develops independently, so it is a response to the pathology of the gallbladder and liver;
Increased echogenicity( hyperechogenicity) of the pancreatic parenchyma
When carrying out ultrasonic diagnostics, one of the important indicators of the examination is the echogenicity of the tissue, according to the results of which it is possible to really estimate the density of internal organs. And if the results of ultrasound revealed a decreased or increased echogenicity( hyperechogenicity) of the pancreas, the doctors consider this a reason for contacting a specialist for examination, establishing and eliminating the causes.
The increased echogenicity of the pancreatic parenchyma is most often diagnosed by ultrasound:
- in the inflammatory process with the formation of fibrosis - scars from the connective tissue. The areas of fibrous tissue differ in density from the healthy parenchyma, therefore they give a hyperechoic signal. Fibrosis of the parenchyma can also develop against a background of metabolic disorders. Therefore, ultrasound is not the only study on the basis of which the doctor can diagnose. Conclusion Ultrasound about increased echogenicity only in conjunction with the results of other studies will allow the doctor not to make a mistake with the diagnosis;
- when replacing healthy parenchyma tissue with fat( gland liposuction), there is also increased echogenicity;
- in acute pancreatitis and recurrence of chronic inflammation edema occurs, changing the density of the parenchyma, respectively, echogenicity of the tissue increases.
Treatment of changes in the pancreatic parenchyma
Diffuse parenchymal changes in the pancreas are a good reason for the appointment of additional examinations. Usually deviations from the usual structure of the tissues suggest that the patient has: age-related changes in the
- ;
- obesity, which promotes the development of lipomatosis;
- diabetes;
- pancreatitis in acute or chronic form;
- fibrosis caused by inflammation or abnormalities in metabolic processes;
- diseases of the heart, blood vessels, liver, bile ducts;
- is an inflammation of the digestive system.
Only the doctor can diagnose an optimal diagnosis and determine the optimal method of treatment after assessing the patient's complaints and the results of biochemical and clinical tests.
Most often, diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the pancreas occur in people whose diet contains too many animal fats, salt, spicy seasonings, alcohol, increasing the load first on the liver, and then on the organ described. The doctor can not choose a method of treatment, until the disease that caused the deviations is revealed. The method of treatment is chosen depending on the type of underlying disease. The doctor prescribes medications that eliminate the cause, and the appropriate diet. It is impossible to cure any disease of the pancreas without changing the diet.