Located in the upper abdomen, the pancreas is attached to the small intestine and assists in the digestive process. It is responsible for the production of certain enzymes that help digest protein, fat, and carbohydrates. It also produces endocrine cells that make hormones, such as insulin. Insulin is important as it regulates the use and storage of glucose, or sugar, in the body.
Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, which may present in either acute or chronic form. The acute form is often a sudden attack of a generally healthy organ. Once the attack has been resolved, the pancreas returns to normal. One symptom of acute pancreatitis is severe upper abdominal pain.
Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive form and may cause destruction of the organ itself. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and upper abdominal pain, often radiating through the back. As the disease progresses, patients may suffer malnutrition, weight loss, and may develop diabetes mellitus.
Tests for chronic pancreatitis include blood tests and plain X-ray films. Diagnosis of the specific disease process can be difficult due to the location of the pancreas and the fact that routine blood tests do not always show elevations in the levels of specific enzymes, known as amylase and lipase. Other diagnostic tests include:
- ultrasonography, which uses sound waves to produce a picture of internal organs
- CT scanning, which links a computer to the X-ray machine and takes multiple X-rays to produce detailed pictures
- endoscopic ultrasound, which uses a tube placed into the stomach and the ultrasound machine directs sound waves to the pancreas
- magnetic resonance imaging, which uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images
Most treatment regimens for pancreatitis focus on pain management and nutritional support. Oral pancreatic enzyme supplements do exist that aid in food digestion. It is advisable for patients to avoid the use of alcohol and eat a low fat diet.
Information on Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious, life-threatening forms of cancer. Little is known about the causes of pancreatic cancer. However, the disease is two to three times more common in heavy smokers than non-smokers. The majority of pancreatic cancers relate to the development of tumors in the glandular ducts that carry digestive enzymes to the small intestine. Most other cases arise in the cells that are responsible for the production of hormones, such as insulin.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include pain, radiating from the stomach to the back, and weight loss. Jaundice, which is caused by blockage of the bile duct, occurs in more than 80 percent of patients who have a tumor in glandular ducts.
Blood tests have proven to be unsatisfactory in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The use of CT-scanning or a fiberoptic tube inserted through the esophagus to the opening of the pancreatic ducts may be helpful in the diagnosis.
Surgery is a possible treatment of pancreatic cancer; however, the curative success rate is low and, for the most part, is limited to those patients who have formed tumors. As with pancreatitis, pain management and nutritional support would be the goal of treatment.
This article is intended for general information purposes only. If you have specific health concerns or questions about the pancreas, please consult your health care provider.
Sources:
Pancreasfoundation.org, “Pancreatic Cancer – Cause, Diagnosis, Treatment and the Future” (accessed March 4, 2010)
Pancreasfoundation.org, “Chronic Pancreatitis” (accessed March 4, 2010)
Vivian Wright - Vivian Wright lives in a small town in Central Ohio with her husband, Paul, and their cat, Toby. After years of working as a legal ...
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