Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis
Pancreas

Pancreatitis Main Page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Acute Pancreatitis Chronic Pancreatitis Hereditary Pancreatitis Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Differential Diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: ; Iqra Qamar M.D.[2]

Overview

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterized by reversible or irreversible changes in pancreatic structure and function leading to inflammation and fibrosis. The concept of pancreas and pancreatic duct was first described by Johannes Wirsung of Padua in 1642. Pancreatitis may be classified as acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, and hereditary pancreatitis. Common causes of pancreatitis may include gallstones, hypertriglyceridemia, alcohol, drugs, genetic, autoimmune, iatrogenic, trauma, infection, surgical causes, and obstruction. Acute pancreatitis usually presents with fever, sharp abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Patients with chronic pancreatitis present with dull abdominal pain, steatorrhea, pancreatic diabetes, nausea, weight loss, pseudocyst and pancreatic cancer.

Causes

Type of pancreatitis	Causes
Acute pancreatitis	Gallstones Hypertriglyceridemia Alcohol Drugs Genetic Autoimmune Iatrogenic Trauma Infection Surgical Obstruction
Chronic pancreatitis	Alcoholic Tobacco smoking Hypercalcemia Hyperlipidemia Chronic renal failure Medications—phenacetin abuse Toxins—organotin compounds (e.g. dibutylin dichloride, DBTC) Idiopathic Tropical Genetic Autoimmune Radiation Obstruction
Autoimmune pancreatitis	Idiopathic Systemic autoimmune conditions
Hereditary pancreatitis	Genetic mutations

Classification

Pancreatitis may be classified as:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Autoimmune pancreatitis
• Hereditary pancreatitis

Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis

Hereditary pancreatitis

Differential Diagnosis

Differentiating pancreatitis from other diseases on the basis of abdominal pain and weight loss:

Pancreatitis presents most commonly with abdominal pain. Pancreatitis must be differentiated from various disease which present with abdominal pain and weight loss such as peptic ulcer disease, pancreatic carcinoma, gastritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram

Disease Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Comments Symptoms Signs Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Chronic pancreatitis Epigastric − − ± ± − + + − − − − N Increased amylase / lipase Increased stool fat content Pancreatic function test CT scan Calcification Pseudocyst Dilation of main pancreatic duct Predisposes to pancreatic cancer Pancreatic carcinoma Epigastric − − + + − + + − − − − N ↑ Alkaline phosphatase ↑ serum bilirubin ↑ gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ↑ CA 19-9  MDCT with  PET/CT MRI Skin manifestations may include: Bullous pemphigoid Cicatricial pemphigoid Migratory superficial thrombophlebitis (classic Trousseau's syndrome) Pancreatic panniculitis Peptic ulcer disease Diffuse ± − + − − − + Gastric ulcer- melena and hematemesis Duodenal ulcer- melena and hematochezia Positive if perforated Positive if perforated Positive if perforated N Ascitic fluid LDH > serum LDH Glucose < 50mg/dl Total protein > 1g/dl Air under diaphragm in upright CXR Upper GI endoscopy for diagnosis Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Gastritis Epigastric ± − + − − − Positive in chronic gastritis + − − − N H.pylori infection diagnostic tests Endoscopy H.pylori gastritis guideline recommendation Gastric outlet obstruction Epigastric − − ± − − − + − − − − Hyperactive Complete blood count Basic metabolic panel Abdominal x-ray- air fluid level Barium upper GI studies- narrowed pylorus Succussion splash Gastroparesis Epigastric − − + − − − + − ± − − Hyperactive/hypoactive Hemoglobin Fasting plasma glucose Serum total protein, albumin, thyrotropin (TSH), and an antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer HbA1c Scintigraphic gastric emptying Succussion splash Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) Full thickness gastric and small intestinal biopsy Dumping syndrome Lower and then diffuse − − + − − + + − + − − Hyperactive Glucose challenge test Hydrogen breath test Upper GI series Gastric emptying study Postgastrectomy Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Inflammatory bowel disease Diffuse ± − − ± − + + + − − − Normal or hyperactive Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA) in Ulcerative colitis Anti saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in Crohn's disease String sign on abdominal x-ray in Crohn's disease Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Arthritis Irritable bowel syndrome Diffuse − − − − ± ± + − − − − N Normal Normal Symptomatic treatment High dietary fiber Osmotic laxatives Antispasmodic drugs Whipple's disease Diffuse ± − − ± − + + − ± − − N Thrombocytopenia Hypoalbuminemia Small intestinal biopsy for Tropheryma whipplei Endoscopy is used to confirm diagnosis. Images used to find complications Chest and joint x-ray CT MRI Echocardiography Extra intestinal findings: Uveitis Endocarditis Encephalitis Dementia Hepatosplenomegaly Arthritis Ascites Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Tropical sprue Diffuse + − − − − + + − − − − N Fat soluble vitamin deficiency Hypoalbuminemia Fecal stool test Barium studies: Dilation and edema of mucosal folds Steatorrhea- 10-40 g/day (Normal=5 g/day) Celiac disease Diffuse − − − − − + + − − − − Hyperactive IgA endomysial antibody IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody Anti-gliadin antibody Small bowel biopsy US: Bull’s eye or target pattern Pseudokidney sign Gluten allergy Colon carcinoma Diffuse/localized − − − − ± ± + + ± − − Normal or hyperactive if obstruction present CBC Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) Colonoscopy Flexible sigmoidoscopy Barium enema CT colonography  PILLCAM 2: A colon capsule for CRC screening may be used in patients with an incomplete colonoscopy who lacks obstruction Viral hepatitis RUQ + − + + − Positive in Hep A and E + − Positive in fulminant hepatitis Positive in acute + N Abnormal LFTs Viral serology US Hep A and E have fecal-oral route of transmission Hep B and C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact. Liver abscess RUQ + + + + − ± + − + + ± Normal or hypoactive CBC Blood cultures Abnormal liver function tests US CT Hepatocellular carcinoma/Metastasis RUQ + − − + − − + − − − − Normal Hyperactive if obstruction present High levels of AFP in serum Abnormal liver function tests US CT Liver biopsy Other symptoms: Splenomegaly Variceal bleeding Ascites Spider nevi Asterixis Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Cirrhosis RUQ − − − + − − + + + − − N Hypoalbuminemia Prolonged PT Abnormal LFTs Hyponatremia Thrombocytopenia US Nodular, shrunken liver Ascites Stigmata of liver disease Cruveilhier- Baumgarten murmur Small bowel obstruction Diffuse + − + − + − + − + + ± Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis with left shift indicates complications Abdominal X ray Dilated loops of bowel with air fluid levels Gasless abdomen "Target sign"– , indicative of intussusception Venous cut-off sign" – suggests thrombosis Mesenteric ischemia Periumbilical Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous − + − − + + + Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous Positive if bowel becomes gangrenous − Hyperactive to absent Leukocytosis and lactic acidosis Amylase levels D-dimer CT angiography SMA or SMV thrombosis Also known as abdominal angina that worsens with eating Acute ischemic colitis Diffuse + ± + − − + + + + + + Hyperactive then absent Leukocytosis Abdominal x-ray Distension and pneumatosis CT scan Double halo appearance, thumbprinting Thickening of bowel May lead to shock Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm Diffuse ± − + − − − + + + − − N Fibrinogen D-dimer Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)  Unstable hemodynamics Pleural empyema RUQ/Epigastric + ± − − − − + − − − − N Thoracentesis Chest X-ray Pleural opacity Localization of effusion Physical examination Crackles Egophony Increased tactile fremitus

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