The superior mesenteric artery fat plane: is obliteration pathognomonic of XXXX ?

@entity1 @entity3123 @entity788 @entity3018 @entity1593 @entity706 @entity5 @entity4 @entity189
Obliteration of the fat plane surrounding the superior mesenteric artery has been described as characteristic of @entity3123 . To determine the specificity of this and other computed tomography findings in the pancreas and peripancreatic region, scans of 86 @entity1 were reviewed without clinical history. Diagnoses included @entity788 (26 @entity1 ); @entity788 (14 @entity1 ); @entity706 (17 @entity1 ); metastatic @entity189 (14 @entity1 ); and normal findings (15 @entity1 ). Confluent @entity3018 could not be reliably differentiated from a pancreatic mass except when @entity3018 separated the common bile duct from the duodenum. Retrocrural @entity3018 was unusual with @entity3123 . The fat plane surrounding the superior mesenteric artery was obliterated with @entity3123 (36%), @entity189 (29%), and @entity706 (24%), but not with @entity788 , although perivascular @entity4 was seen in 19%. Evaluation of the @entity1593 was less rewarding. Obliteration of the superior mesenteric artery fat plane is a sign of @entity5 , but it is not specific for @entity3123 . We propose that the superior mesenteric artery origin be considered within a paraaortic space, separate from the anterior pararenal space. This explains its characteristic lack of involvement by @entity788 .
