Acute severe pancreatitis with infected necrosis

In patients with pancreatitis, CT scan is typically not done only for diagnosis, which is usually made on clinical and biochemical features. A baseline CT is usually performed at around seven days. However, if there is fever, raised white cell count, deterioration of general condition, etc. then a CT is performed earlier to look for complications.

On such complication is infection. Infection is not always easy to diagnose, however, if air is seen within a collection or area of necrosis, then this diagnosis can be confidently made.