The Common Pancreatic Disorders and Treatment
The pancreas is a compound acinotubular gland located behind the stomach. Common Pancreatic Disorders are
- Inflammatory Disorders- Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
- Hereditary Pancreatitis
- Malignancy- Pancreatic Cancer
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas, with a 10% mortality rate. The diagnosis is often critical, which delays treatments in patients.
The most common cause is gallbladder stone/s. A surgical procedure is needed if imaging studies like X-rays are inadequate. Prevention of recurrent episodes is a priority for a physician, where 17-25% of patients are generally affected.
Causes:
- High blood levels of triglyceride or calcium
- Medicines
- Alcohol- heavy consumption
Symptoms:
- Mild to worse pain after eating
- Illness associated with fever
- Vomiting and nausea
- Tender or swollen abdomen
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic Pancreatitis gets worse over a period of time. The inflammation may cause permanent damage to the pancreas, leading to less improvement in symptoms. The disease affects males more often, between the ages of 30-40 years. The frequency is 50 patients in 1 million populations.
Causes:
- Heavy alcohol use
- Autoimmune disorders/condition
- Blockages in pancreatic duct/bile duct
- Family history- genetic reasons
Symptoms
- Severe Nausea and Vomiting
- Rapid weight loss (even when appetite is normal)
- Diarrhea or passage of fatty stools
- Change in color of stools- either pale or clay-colored
Diagnosis:
- X-ray examination
- USG- transabdominal/endoscopic
- MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography)
- CT-Scan
Hereditary pancreatitis
This type of inflammatory condition is related to genetic or inherited abnormalities of the intestine or pancreas. The recurrent attacks, early in life, may lead to chronic pancreatitis. Cystic Fibrosis, if inherited, often causes chronic pancreatitis. This inflammatory condition is often progressive in nature, leading to long-lasting problems.
Symptoms are diarrhea, moderate to chronic pain, malnutrition. The treatment goal is pain control and replacement of pancreatic enzymes.
Pancreatic Cancer
It is a condition caused due to abnormal growth and division of mutated pancreatic cells. The pancreatic cells start functioning abnormally. The mutated cells can build up and forms a mass known as a tumor.
A tumor that has cancerous cells becomes malignant. It is very difficult to detect pancreatic cancer in the early stages. By the time the symptoms appear, cancer must have reached in its advanced stages.
