A 60 year old man presented to the OPD with symptoms suggestive of acute pancreatitis. He consumes high quantities of alcohol regularly. His symptoms staed 4 days ago. But he continued to consume alcohol. He was admitted for fuher evaluation. Presently, he has severe vomiting. He also complains of dizziness when standing. Examination revealed tenderness in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium. A reddish discolouration is noted in the flanks. Which of the following statements regarding the patient is most accurate?
High-Yield Explanation
The history and clinical features (Abdominal tenderness, hypotension due to blood loss, Grey Turner's sign) are suggestive of acute pancreatitis with pancreatic necrosis. Hence a contrast CT scan of the abdomen will reveal severe necrotising pancreatitis.Reddish / bluish discolouration of the flanks is known as Grey Turner's sign. It is named after George Grey Turner, a British surgeon. It is seen in cases of acute pancreatitis with pancreatic necrosis and intra abdominal bleedinAnother feature of pancreatic necrosis is a bluish discolouration around the umbilicus, known as Cullen's sign. It is named after Thomas Stephen Cullen, a Canadian gynecologist who first described the sign in a case of ruptured ectopic pregnancy in 1916. Both these signs take 1-2 days to develop in a case of acute pancreatitiFocal / diffuse enlargement of pancreatic parenchyma Indistinct margins Density changes due to presence of oedema Retroperitoneal stranding Elimination of the other options Pseudocyst of pancreas usually develops a few weeks after the onset of pancreatitis The features are not suggestive of appendicitis Pancreatic calcification is seen in chronic pancreatitis. Ref : Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 21st ed