Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas.

It occurs when the enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas instead of the small intestine. Pancreatitis may be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis is very sudden and lasts for a few days while chronic pancreatitisoccurs over many years. Chronic pancreatitis has multiple causes and painful symptoms.

Diagnosis
The diagnostic criteria for pancreatitis are "two of the following three features: 1) abdominal pain characteristic of acute pancreatitis, 2) serum amylase and/or lipase 3 times the upper limit of normal, and 3) characteristic findings of acute pancreatitis on CT scan." [edit]Laboratory
[12]

tests

Most frequently, measurement is made of amylase and/or lipase, and often one or both, are elevated in cases of pancreatitis. Two practice guidelines state: It is usually not necessary to measure both serum amylase and lipase. Serum lipase may be preferable because it remains normal in some nonpancreatic conditions that increase serum amylase including macroamylasemia, parotitis, and some carcinomas. In general, serum lipase is thought to be more [12] sensitive and specific than serum amylase in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis". Although amylase is widely available and provides acceptable accuracy of diagnosis, where lipase is [13] available it is preferred for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (recommendation grade A)". Most,
[14][15][16][17][18]

but not all

[19][20]

individual studies support the superiority of the lipase. In one large

study, no patients with pancreatitis who had an elevated amylase with a normal lipase were found.
[14]

Another study found that the amylase could add diagnostic value to the lipase but only if the
[21]

results of the two tests were combined with a discriminant functionequation.

Previously,

the Phadebas Amylase Test was the dominating test method but it is no longer registered as an IVD. Conditions other than pancreatitis may lead to increases in these enzymes, and those conditions may also cause pain that resembles that of pancreatitis. These conditions includecholecystitis, perforated ulcer, bowel infarction (i.e., dead bowel as a result of poor blood supply), and even diabetic ketoacidosis). [edit]Imaging Although ultrasound imaging and CT scanning of the abdomen can be used to confirm the diagnosis of pancreatitis, neither is usually necessary as a primary diagnostic modality. exacerbate pancreatitis,
[23] [22]

In addition, CT contrast may

although this is disputed.

[24]

See acute pancreatitis.