8. Acute pancreatitis with adiponecrosis

Organ: Pancreas

Description:

We can see blackish areas on the pancreas. Also visible are small, chalky whitish spots.

Diagnosis: Acute pancreatitis with adiponecrosis

Causes:

• See histology slide number 6.

Theory:

Pancreatic lipases will split triacylglycerols into fatty acids and glycerol. The free fatty acids will react with nearby calcium to form soap, the whitish spots on the preparation. This soap formation is characteristic for adiponecrosis.

The blackish spots form from the haemorrhage associated with haemorrhagic acute pancreatitis.

See theory topic 6 and histology slide number 6.

No photo unfortunately.