• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.686-692
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• 2010

Computed tomography (CT) is considered as gold standard in evaluating pancreatitis in human, but there have been only a few studies in veterinary field. Balthazar CT severity index (CTSI) used to assess the severity of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in human could be applicable to dogs, because the severity of acute pancreatitis depends on the area of pancreatic necrosis in dogs more than in human. In this study, 25 adult, clinically healthy beagle dogs were used. CT examinations was performed in normal pancreas, positive control group and acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by autologous bile injection. Balthazar CTSI was applied to canine acute necrotizing pancreatitis in contrastenhanced CT image and compared with the result of histopathologic examination. The Hounsfield unit (HU) of normal canine pancreas was $52.44{\pm}4.58$ and the density was significantly decreased in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (P < .05). In contrast-enhanced CT examination, pancreatic density was decreased significantly and this area was compatible to pancreatic necrosis. Balthazar CTSI showed positive correlation with histopathologic evaluation with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.89%. Balthazar CTSI can be applied to evaluate the severity of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in dogs.