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Quiz
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Remember
Mr. Stein's original abdominal CT?
Not only his CT, but his labs told
us something was wrong with his pancreas. Now we know he had an episode
of
acute pancreatitis.
1. Acute pancreatitis
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Acute onset marked by
abdominal
pain resulting from enzymatic necrosis and inflammation of the
pancreas.
-
About 80% of the cases are associated
with either (1) biliary tract disease or (2) alcoholism.
-
Gallstones account for
35-60% of cases.
-
Other causes include:
viral and bacterial infections (mumps and M. pneumoniae),
acute ischemia, a few medications, hyperparathyroidism, hyperlipoproteinemias
and in some cases we never know the cause.
-
Whatever starts it, the process
is one of autodigestion by the pancreatic enzymes themselves.
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Can lead to shock, ARDS,
DIC,
pancreatic abscess and pseudocyst formation.
So what's the scoop on chronic
pancreatitis?
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