The revised Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis: a CT imaging guide for radiologists

Abstract

Accurate diagnosis and description of the various findings in acute pancreatitis is important for treatment. The original Atlanta classification for acute pancreatitis sought to create a uniform system for classifying the severity of acute pancreatitis as well as common language to describe the various events that can occur in acute pancreatitis. The goal was to allow accurate communication between physicians using standardized language so correct treatment options could be used. Since that time, advances in the understanding of acute pancreatitis as well as improvements in both interventions and imaging have led to criticisms of the system and its abandonment by physicians. A 2007 revision of the Atlanta classifications sought to address many of these issues. This article will explain the changes to the Atlanta classification system and provide pictorial examples of the findings in acute pancreatitis as described by the Atlanta classification system.

Revised Atlanta Classification for Acute Pancreatitis: A Pictorial Essay

“…A draft was posted on the Pancreas Club Web site in 2008 (3). This draft was referrenced in several initial publications in the radiology literature (4)(5)(6). After a total of four Web-based revisions, the revised Atlanta classifi cation system was fi nalized in 2012 and published shortly thereafter, with updates to the earlier-cited draft (2).…”

Determinant-Based Classification of Acute Pancreatitis Severity

“…67 A recent example of this is the measurement of angiopoietin-2, a marker of vascular leak syndrome, in predicting persistent organ failure. [70][71][72][73][74] The literature is replete with countless studies that demonstrate a statistically significant association between a wide array of factors and the severity of acute pancreatitis. 69 Second, the new international multidisciplinary classification defines severity solely on the basis of factors that have a causal association with severity.…”

Outcome of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with clinically defined decompensated liver cirrhosis

“…Cotton et al . 's definition of post‐ERCP adverse events uses wider inclusion criteria than the current definition of acute pancreatitis and cholangitis . Because the definitions of adverse events include the prolongation of hospitalization, the rates of mild PEP and mild cholangitis after ERCP seemed to be higher than those in previous studies.…”