Balthazar grade
Gastroenterology and hepatology
Also known as: CT severity index (CTSI) · Balthazar-Klassifikation · CT-Schweregradindex (CTSI) · Balthazar sınıflaması · BT ciddiyet indeksi · Balthazar grade and CT severity index (CTSI) of acute pancreatitis
What it is for
Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) grading of acute pancreatitis. The Balthazar grade (A–E) describes inflammation and fluid collections; adding points for the extent of pancreatic necrosis gives the CT severity index (0–10).
Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Grade A (0 points) | normal pancreas |
| Grade B (1 point) | focal or diffuse enlargement of the pancreas |
| Grade C (2 points) | pancreatic abnormalities with inflammation of the peripancreatic fat |
| Grade D (3 points) | single peripancreatic fluid collection |
| Grade E (4 points) | two or more fluid collections and/or gas in or next to the pancreas |
| Necrosis | none 0 points; up to 30% 2 points; 30–50% 4 points; more than 50% 6 points |
| CTSI | grade points plus necrosis points (0–10); Balthazar grouped totals of 0–3, 4–6 and 7–10 |
| Modified CTSI (Mortele 2004) | simplifies the inflammation and necrosis scores and adds points for extrapancreatic complications; also 0–10. |
Source
Acute pancreatitis: value of CT in establishing prognosis
Radiology 1990;174:331–336 (Balthazar EJ et al.)
DOI: 10.1148/radiology.174.2.2296641
PMID: 2296641
- Edition
- Balthazar 1990 CT severity index; modified CTSI (Mortele 2004)
- Checked on
Summary of the published classification in our own words. Not a substitute for the original publication.
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