Combined use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and computed tomography for identifying pancreatic abscesses

A 40-year-old male showed intermittent spike fever 2 1/2 months after receiving conservative medical treatment for acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed leakage of the contrast media from the main pancreatic duct into the pancreatic parenchyma. Immediately following ERCP, computed tomography (CT) scans revealed separate poolings of this contrast media in the pancreatic head and tail. Surgical debridement of the pancreatic head and tail was therefore performed, after which drains were placed at both sites. The patient recovered successfully. To own knowledge, this is the first reported case in which pancreatic abscesses, a late complication of acute pancreatitis, were clearly identified by the use of ERCP followed by CT.