One of the main digestive organs is the pancreas. It performs both exo and endocrine functions. Violation of the body leads to serious diseases. Among them are pancreatitis and diabetes. Each of these pathologies is a mortal danger. Therefore, timely diagnosis of pancreatic diseases allows you to detect ailments in the early stages. It is worth noting that without this body it is completely impossible to live. In this regard, pancreatic cancer and pancreatic necrosis quickly lead to death. The most common symptoms of the disease are nausea and digestive disorders.
The importance of the pancreas in the body
The pancreas is an organ located in the abdominal cavity that is involved in food processing and carries out endocrine functions. It consists of three anatomical formations: head, body and tail. The length of the pancreas is quite large. Its head originates in the right hypochondrium, and the tail ends in the left half of the epigastric region. Therefore, with inflammatory processes, painful sensations can be localized almost throughout the abdomen, and also have a girdling character.
The exocrine part of the organ occupies a large area of the pancreas. It performs an exocrine function. Iron secretes pancreatic juice and enzymes. These include substances such as alpha-amylase, lipase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. Each of these enzymes is necessary for the breakdown of food, namely proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
The endocrine part of the organ is located in the tail. It occupies only a small area, but is vital. Histological structures such as islets of Langerhans are distinguished in the tail . They consist of several types of cells. The hormones produced by the pancreas include: insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide.
Reasons for the development of pathological changes
Not only doctors can answer the question of how to find out about the health of the pancreas. After all, inflammatory changes in this organ are accompanied by severe pain and nausea. These symptoms are almost always associated with previous drinking of alcohol or fatty foods. Ethyl alcohol is the main cause of pancreatitis and liver disease. It destroys pancreatic cells, which leads to impaired production of enzymes. Prolonged use of alcohol can also cause hormonal changes, in particular diabetes mellitus.
Another reason for the development of pathologies is poor nutrition. Diagnosis of diseases of the liver and pancreas should begin with a survey of the patient. Eating fat in large quantities leads to the fact that enzymes can not cope with the load. Also, the state of the body is affected by the frequent intake of spicy and fried foods.
Clinical characteristics of diseases
Despite the fact that the symptoms of pancreatic diseases are similar to those of other gastrointestinal pathologies, an experienced doctor will be able to distinguish them. Also, palpation of the abdomen, laboratory and instrumental tests will help with this. In order to identify the pathology in time, the correct diagnosis of the pancreas is important. Symptoms of an organ disease are as follows:
- Pain in the upper abdomen. Unpleasant sensations associated with the intake of fatty foods or alcohol. Their localization depends on the degree of damage. This can be the left half of the epigastrium, the region of the stomach, less often the right side of the abdomen. In severe cases, the pain also covers the surface of the back, that is, it is girdle-like.
- Nausea after eating. Unlike other gastrointestinal pathologies, vomiting with pancreatitis does not bring relief.
- Bloating and flatulence. Fermentation of undigested food leads to an accumulation of gas in the intestines. This provokes the occurrence of such complaints.
- Fever. It is observed in acute inflammatory process and during exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis.
If symptoms such as increased thirst and frequent urination are detected, a blood test should be taken to determine glucose levels. Long-term chronic pancreatitis often leads to damage to the islets of Langerhans and impaired insulin production.
Differential diagnosis of pathologies
Before starting treatment, a diagnosis should be made correctly. To do this, you need to consult a gastroenterologist and undergo an examination. Only a specialist in this field can carry out differential diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. It is necessary in order to distinguish one pathology from all others with similar symptoms. Inflammatory processes of the pancreas are differentiated with acute and chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, duodenal ulcer.
In some cases, pancreatitis resembles a heart attack. In this case, the patient must undergo an ECG to exclude myocardial ischemia. In the absence of a heart attack, laboratory tests are performed for the presence of pancreatitis. If the pains are of a zoster nature, pancreatitis should be differentiated with osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, renal colic. In the acute inflammatory process, treatment should be started urgently.
Diagnosis of pancreatic diseases: methods
Before making a diagnosis, the patient undergoes all necessary examinations. The first step is to collect complaints. In a conversation with the doctor, the patient tells what specific symptoms bother him. The gastroenterologist records this information and highlights the pathology syndromes. The following methods for diagnosing pancreatic diseases are:
- General examination and physical examination.
- Collection of tests for laboratory tests.
- Instrumental diagnostics.
After all examinations are carried out, the doctor differentiates between diseases that have similar symptoms. Based on all stages of the examination, a clinical diagnosis is made.
Palpation of the pancreas and liver
Diagnosis of diseases of the pancreas and liver begins with a physical examination. The doctor assesses the condition of the patient's skin, examines the mucous membranes and measures the body temperature. With pathologies of the hepatobiliary system, traces of scratching or spider veins - telangiectasias - are observed on the skin. Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) is often accompanied by yellowness of the sclera and skin. The acute phase of the disease is evidenced by high fever.
After a general examination, abdominal palpation is performed. Pain at certain points indicates damage to the pancreas. The patient notes discomfort when the doctor touches the left hypochondrium. Palpation is carried out both lying on the back and on the side. The size of the liver is determined using a deep palm in the right hypochondrium.
Laboratory studies for pathologies of the pancreas
An important stage of the examination is the laboratory diagnosis of pancreatic diseases. First, the patient passes general tests: OAC and OAM. Acute inflammation is characterized by an increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood and an acceleration of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. High ESR may also indicate the development of the oncological process. Specific indicators specific to pancreatic diseases include: total and direct bilirubin, pancreatic amylase, ALT, AST, and glucose. The level of these substances is determined using a biochemical blood test. Also, a large amount of the enzyme, diastases in the urine, indicates pancreatitis.
An increase in glucose indicates diabetes caused by a lack of insulin. Such changes indicate damage to the endocrine organ. The lack of enzymes in pancreatic juice is determined by duodenal sounding. Also, pancreatitis is indicated by the presence of unsplit fats and muscle fibers in the feces. Similar laboratory syndromes are called steato- and creatorrhea. For this reason, bowel movements become greasy.
Instrumental examination methods
In addition to tests, the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases includes instrumental studies. These include: ultrasound of the hepato-duodenal zone, computed tomography and MRI. A special research method is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (RCH). It consists in introducing contrast into the ducts of the hepatobiliary zone.
After the endoscope is inserted into the lumen of the duodenum, a series of x-rays are taken. Thus, the doctor can assess the condition of all ducts and the Vater papilla. If a tumor is suspected, a biopsy is performed.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal cavity
As you know, magnetic resonance imaging has established itself as one of the safest and most informative diagnostic procedures. In addition, this method is non-invasive and painless. The possibilities of an MRI diagnosis of pancreatic diseases are extensive. The study allows you to visualize all the organs of the abdominal cavity, their location and structure. Using a layer-by-layer scan of the pancreas, it is possible to see areas of inflammation or the presence of tumor formations. To improve imaging, MRI with contrast is recommended .
Pancreatic Disease Treatment
You can not start treatment on your own. When characteristic complaints appear, you should contact your gastroenterologist and find out how to check the pancreas. A list of necessary examinations can be given by a general practitioner or surgeon. With exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Since the body does not cope with its functions, enzyme replacement therapy is required. These include drugs "Pancreatin", "Festal", "Mezim-forte." Acute inflammation requires urgent hospitalization and surgical treatment. If the patient has developed diabetes, hormone therapy is prescribed, as well as a strict diet with the exception of carbohydrate foods.
Prevention of diseases and exacerbations
To avoid pathologies of the pancreas, you should eat right. Vegetables and fruits should prevail in the diet. Do not abuse fried, spicy and fatty foods. It is also recommended to exclude alcoholic drinks and smoking. Violation of the diet and the intake of ethyl alcohol provokes exacerbation of the disease.