Pancreatic Disorders

Question 1

What are the risk factors for acute pancreatitis?

Answer 1

Gallstones
Alcohol
Hypertriglyceridemia
Drugs (azathioprine, thiazide diuretics and furosemide)
ERCP
Trauma
Lupus
Pancreatic Cancer
Hypercalcaemia
Viruses

Question 2

What would investigations show in acute pancreatitis?

Answer 2

Serum lipase or amylase (raised)
AAT (raised if gallstones)
FBC (leucocytosis)
CRP
Haematocrit (low)
US
CT
MRCP

Question 3

What is the management for acute pancreatitis?

Answer 3

Analgesia
Magnesium and Calcium replacement
O2
Blood transfusion

Question 4

What are some causes of chronic pancreatitis?

Answer 4

Alcohol
Cystic fibrosis
Congenital abnormalities
Hypercalcaemia

Question 5

How does chronic pancreatitis present?

Answer 5

Asymptomatic during early disease
Abdominal pain (epigastric, diminishes when sitting forward)
Weight loss
Steatorrhea
Jaundice
Nausea and vomiting

Question 6

What types of pancreatic cancer are there?

Answer 6

Duct cell mucinous adenocarcinoma
Carcinosarcoma
cystadenocarcinoma (better prognosis)
Acinar cell