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Chronic pancreatitis: Difference between revisions
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'''Chronic pancreatitis''' is characterised by chronic inflammation of the pancreas with replacement of normal parenchyme by fibrotic scar tissue, which causes chronic abdominal pain and pancreatic insufficiency. It is an ongoing, progressive pathologic response to pancreatic injury. In most cases, chronic pancreatitis is caused by having multiple episodes of [[acute pancreatitis]]. The disease progresses gradually from a single episode of acute pancreatitis to relapsing episodes of acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatitis . | <section begin="radiology" />'''Chronic pancreatitis''' is characterised by chronic inflammation of the pancreas with replacement of normal parenchyme by fibrotic scar tissue, which causes chronic abdominal pain and pancreatic insufficiency. It is an ongoing, progressive pathologic response to pancreatic injury. In most cases, chronic pancreatitis is caused by having multiple episodes of [[acute pancreatitis]]. The disease progresses gradually from a single episode of acute pancreatitis to relapsing episodes of acute pancreatitis to chronic pancreatitis.<section end="radiology" /> | ||
== Etiology == | == Etiology == | ||
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== Clinical features == | == Clinical features == | ||
Abdominal pain in the epigastric region which radiates to the back and nausea/vomiting are the most common symptoms. | Abdominal pain in the epigastric region which radiates to the back and nausea/vomiting are the most common symptoms. | ||
<section begin="radiology" /> | |||
== Diagnosis and evaluation == | == Diagnosis and evaluation == | ||
Contrast [[CT]] or [[MRCP]] will show pancreatic atrophy and parenchymal calcification. If other investigations are not diagnostic, pancreatic functional diagnostics may be used. | Contrast [[CT]] or [[MRCP]] will show pancreatic atrophy and parenchymal calcification. If other investigations are not diagnostic, pancreatic functional diagnostics may be used. | ||
<section end="radiology" /> | |||
The most likely underlying cause of the chronic pancreatitis must be sought, based on history of exposure to risk factors, lab tests, and possibly genetic testing. | The most likely underlying cause of the chronic pancreatitis must be sought, based on history of exposure to risk factors, lab tests, and possibly genetic testing. | ||