Introduction: Acute inflammation process of the pancreas with or without involvement of surrounding tissues and remote organ systems is termed as Acute Pancreatitis (AP). Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) if performed immediately may underestimate the severity. Therefore, ultrasound examination remains the first imaging diagnostic method in suspected cases of AP. The sensitivity of B-mode sonography for the early diagnosis of AP can be increased by the detection of an increase in pancreatic tissue stiffness with Shear Wave Elastography (SWE). Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of SWE in the analysis of AP. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tertiary Care Hospital attached to Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, Karnataka, India, from August 2019 to September 2019. The pancreatic parenchyma of 30 patients with symptoms of AP that included acute onset of severe central epigastric pain, poorly localised tenderness and pain increased by supine positioning radiating to the back. The study also included 40 healthy, asymptomatic volunteer who were examined using B-mode sonography and SWE. Computed Tomography (CT) was performed in all patients with AP with a SEIMENS SOMATOM DEFINITION EDGE 128 slice CT scanner. Elastographic measurements were performed and quantitative SWE values represented in kilopascal (kPa) of the patients and asymptomatic volunteers group were compared. Patients’ amylase and lipase levels were done by biochemical tests. Descriptive and Inferential statistical analysis was carried out in the present study. Student’s t-test (two tailed, independent), Leven’s test for homogeneity of variance and Chi-square test was used to find the significance of study parameters. Results: The mean SWE values for the asymptomatic volunteers with normal pancreatic parenchyma were 9.53±2.62 kPa. The mean SWE values for the pancreatic parenchyma of the patients with AP were 17.23±6.24 kPa. The mean SWE value for the patients with AP was significantly higher than the value for the control group (p<0.001). A SWE cut-off value of 13.5 kPa was associated with 70% sensitivity and 92.5% specificity for diagnosis of AP. Conclusion: For the diagnosis of AP at initial hospital admission, SWE can be used as it is a rapid, radiation-free, and non- invasive tool. It is a useful imaging method with high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of AP.

Introduction: Retroperitoneum is one of the largest and complex anatomical spaces in the body where, even before the clinical presentation, the tumours often grow silently to large sizes. Therefore, an early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. Among the various imaging modalities, Computed Tomography (CT) is the preferred imaging technique for the evaluation of retroperitoneal tumours. It plays an important role in determining the epicenter of tumour, size, tumour composition, extent, vascularity and effects on adjacent structures, and thus aids in treatment planning. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate various CT imaging findings of retroperitoneal tumours and to associate it with histopathological findings. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done at Department of Radiology in the tertiary care hospital for a duration of 12 months from 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019. The study included 30 patients. Each patient was subjected to plain and contrast enhanced CT to characterise the retroperitoneal tumour. The results were tabulated and evaluated descriptively by Microsoft Excel 2016 and presented in figures, tables, frequency graphs and pie charts. Results: Out of 30 patients, 17 (56.6%) were males and 13 (43.3%) were females. Most commonly affected age group was seventh decade, followed by sixth decade. Histopathology confirmed the radiologic diagnosis in 26 cases. A total of 80% of the lesions were malignant and 20% were benign. Primary retroperitoneal tumours were the most common tumours (11 cases) accounting for 36.6% of cases. Among primary retroperitoneal tumours, lymphoma (four cases) was the most common tumour followed by lymph nodal metastases (three cases). Other four tumours were liposarcoma, extra-adrenal neuroblastoma, paraganglioma and lymphangioma. Majority of the tumours were solid (29 cases) and only one case was cystic. Heterogeneous enhancement was the most common pattern of enhancement which was seen in 23 cases. Infiltration of adjacent organ was seen in five cases, vascular encasement in seven cases and distant metastasis in six cases. Conclusion: The collective evaluation of various CT imaging findings of retroperitoneal tumours which includes the epicentre of lesion, tumour composition (solid, cystic, fat, calcification, necrosis), enhancement pattern, size, effect on adjacent organs (displacement or infiltration), vascular encasement and distant metastasis helps to arrive at an accurate radiologic diagnosis and thus guides in therapeutic planning.