Pancreatitis Fluid Collections
(Revised Atlanta Classification)
| Duration | Fluid only | Solid ± fluid |
|---|---|---|
| Acute (<4 wks w/o defined wall) | Acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC) | Acute necrotic collection (ANC) |
| Chronic (≥4 wks w/defined wall) | Pseudocyst | Walled off necrosis (WON) |
- Onset of acute pancreatitis is defined as the time of onset of abdominal pain (not hospital admission).
- Within the first week of acute pancreatitis, the role of imaging for local complications is limited.
- Presence and extent of necrosis may not be clearly defined in the first few days of disease.
- Extent of morphologic changes and necrosis is not proportional to severity of organ failure.
- Even if a peripancreatic collection or necrosis is seen, treatment is rarely required in the first week. In particular, infected necrosis is rare during the first week.
- Diagnosis of infected necrosis can be suspected by the patient's clinical course or by the presence of gas within the collection.
Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C et al. Classification of acute pancreatitis - 2012: revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut 2013; 62:102-111.
Thoeni, RF. The revised Atlanta classification of acute [ancreatitis: its importance for the radiologist and its effect on treatment. Radiology 2012; 262:751-764.