CT scans of the pancreas are useful in the diagnosis cancer of the pancreas and pancreatitis. Other related procedures that may be used to diagnose pancreas disorders include abdominal X-rays, pancreas scan, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and abdominal ultrasound.
Neoptolemos et al reported a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 100% in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis by US. Hosokawa et al found that the accuracy of US for determining the CT Balthazar scores in children with acute pancreatitis was 91.7% (95% confidence interval 73.0-99.0%, 22/24 patients).
Results: There were 66/107 (62%) and 49/107 (46%) cases with missed and misinterpreted imaging findings, respectively. A significant number of missed tumors were < 2 cm (45/107, 42%), isoattenuating on CT (32/72, 44%) or non-contour deforming (44/107, 41%).
In mild pancreatitis, the CT features range from a normal-appearing pancreas with no peripancreatic abnormalities to diffuse enlargement and heterogeneous attenuation of the gland with ill-definition of the border.
Computed tomography (CT) is often the most appropriate initial imaging modality to evaluate suspected chronic pancreatitis (CP); it depicts most of the changes in pancreatic morphology.
Lipase. The best test for acute pancreatitis is the serum lipase test. If the lipase concentration is >3x the upper limit of normal, a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is highly likely. Serum lipase levels increase within 4-8 hours of acute pancreatitis onset and remain elevated for 8-14 days.
In acute (sudden onset) pancreatitis you may have sudden, severe, upper abdominal (tummy) pain spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting. In chronic (ongoing) pancreatitis you may have longstanding mid-abdominal pain. The two most common causes of pancreatitis are drinking too much alcohol and having gallstones.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen. The pain: May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, more commonly if foods have a high fat content. Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days.
While the measurement of serum pancreatic enzymes such as amylase is the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, the measured value for the serum pancreatic enzymes should be interpreted by considering the duration of patient's symptoms.
The symptoms of acute pancreatitis can sometimes be confused with symptoms of other emergencies such as heart attack, biliary colic (gallbladder stones) or perforation of a gastric or duodenal ulcer.
Multidetector CT is preferred for both staging and assessing pancreatic adenocarcinoma resectability. MRI may play an importand adjunctive role. In a study of 3567 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 90%, 87%, and 89%, respectively, for CT.
The pictures are more detailed than a typical x-ray. During a CT scan of the abdomen, pictures are taken of cross sections or slices of the abdominal structures in your body. The abdominal structures include your liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, GI tract, and the area around these organs.
They'll also do a blood test, and sometimes a CT scan, to help confirm the diagnosis. At first, it can be difficult to tell whether your acute pancreatitis is mild or severe. You'll be monitored closely for signs of serious problems, such as organ failure.
It is generally accepted that CT can detect chronic pancreatitis in patients with severe or advanced disease. In contrast, ERCP, pancreatic function tests, MRI, and EUS are more sensitive in diagnosing early or mild chronic pancreatitis.
Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis
It's been described as a burning or shooting pain which comes and goes, but can last for several hours or days, in some cases. Some people also experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting during the pain.
The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly. This aching pain often gets steadily worse and can travel along your back or below your left shoulder blade. Eating or drinking may also make you feel worse very quickly, especially fatty foods.
Mid-back pain can be a sign and symptom of pancreatic cancer. The pain can be caused by a tumour invading nerves or organs that lie near the pancreas. Some people also report that they feel pain in their shoulder or under their shoulder blade. Other people feel pain in their back and abdomen (tummy) at the same time.
Abdominal pain from pancreatitis may be moderate to severe and may radiate to your back. Acute pancreatitis tends to be more severe, with a penetrating quality. Your abdomen may feel tender to the touch. With chronic pancreatitis, the pain may vary in intensity.
The hallmark symptom of acute pancreatitis is the acute onset of persistent upper abdominal pain, usually with nausea and vomiting. The usual locations of the pain are the epigastric and periumbilical regions. The pain may radiate to the back, chest, flanks, and lower abdomen.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain in your upper abdomen that may spread to your back.
Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive condition in which long-standing inflammation leads to loss of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function. Chronic pancreatitis often goes unnoticed for many years.
A CBC test shows the level of white blood cells and red blood cells in the blood, among other components. A CBC test can indicate a possible infection related to pancreatitis. However, a full blood count alone is not enough to diagnose pancreatitis.
Can you test for pancreatitis at home? No, you cannot test for pancreatitis at home. While there are rapid urine tests available that don't require any lab processing, these must be performed by a healthcare provider.