One of the main organs of digestion is the pancreas. It performs both exo- and endocrine functions. Violation of the work of the body leads to serious diseases. Among them are pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. Each of these pathologies poses a mortal danger. Therefore, timely diagnosis of diseases of the pancreas allows you to detect ailments in the early stages. It is worth noting that it is absolutely impossible to live without this body. In this regard, pancreatic cancer and pancreatic necrosis quickly lead to death. The most common symptoms of illness are nausea and indigestion.
The importance of the pancreas in the body
The pancreas is an organ located in the abdominal cavity, which is involved in the processing of food and performs 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, during inflammatory processes, pain can be localized almost throughout the abdomen, and also have a shingles character.
The exocrine part of the organ occupies a large area of the pancreas. It performs an exocrine function. The gland 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 the islets of Langerhans are distinguished in the tail. They are made up of several types of cells. 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 well-being 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 consumption of alcohol or fatty foods. Ethyl alcohol is the main cause of pancreatitis and liver disease. It destroys pancreatic cells, which leads to a violation of the production of enzymes. Long-term alcohol consumption can also cause hormonal changes, such as diabetes.
Another reason for the development of pathologies is malnutrition. Diagnosis of diseases of the liver and pancreas should begin with a survey of the patient. The use of fats in large quantities leads to the fact that enzymes cannot 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 between them. Palpation of the abdomen, laboratory and instrumental tests will also help with this. In order to identify the pathology in time, the correct diagnosis of the pancreas is important. The symptoms of an organ disease are as follows:
- Pain in the upper abdomen. Unpleasant sensations are associated with the intake of fatty foods or alcohol. Their localization depends on the degree of damage. This may 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 of a girdle character.
- Nausea after eating. Unlike other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, vomiting in pancreatitis does not bring relief.
- Bloating and flatulence. The fermentation of undigested foods leads to the accumulation of gas in the intestines. This provokes such complaints.
- Increased body temperature. It is observed in acute inflammatory process and duringexacerbation of chronic pancreatitis.
If you experience symptoms such as increased thirst and frequent urination, you should take a blood test to determine the level of glucose. 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 correct diagnosis must be made. To do this, you need to contact 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 that have similar symptoms. Inflammatory processes of the pancreas are differentiated from 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 rule out myocardial ischemia. In the absence of a heart attack, laboratory tests for the presence of pancreatitis are performed. If the pain is shingles, pancreatitis should be differentiated from osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine, renal colic. In acute inflammation, treatment should be started immediately.
Diagnosis of pancreatic diseases: methods
Before making a diagnosis, the patient undergoes all the necessary examinations. The first step is to collect complaints. In a conversation with a doctor, the patient tells what kind of symptomsdisturb him. The gastroenterologist records this information and highlights pathology syndromes. There are the following methods for diagnosing diseases of the pancreas:
- General examination and physical examination.
- Collecting samples for laboratory tests.
- Instrumental diagnostics.
After all the examinations are completed, 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 body temperature. In pathologies of the hepato-biliary 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. A high temperature indicates the acute phase of the disease.
After a general examination, the abdomen is palpated. 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 by deep insertion of the palm into the right hypochondrium.
Laboratory studies for pancreatic pathologies
An important stage of the examination islaboratory diagnosis of diseases of the pancreas. First, the patient takes general tests: KLA and OAM. Acute inflammation is characterized by an increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood and an acceleration of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A high ESR may also indicate the development of an oncological process. Specific indicators characteristic of 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, pancreatitis is evidenced by a large amount of the enzyme - diastase in the urine.
Elevated glucose levels indicate diabetes mellitus caused by a lack of insulin. Such changes indicate damage to the endocrine part of the organ. The lack of enzymes in pancreatic juice is determined using duodenal sounding. Pancreatitis is also indicated by the presence of unsplit fats and muscle fibers in the feces. Similar laboratory syndromes are called steato- and creatorrhea. This causes stools to become greasy.
Instrumental examination methods
In addition to tests, the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases also includes instrumental studies. These include: ultrasound of the hepato-duodenal zone, computed tomography and MRI. A special research method is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It consists in the introduction of contrast into the ducts of the hepato-biliary zone.
After inserting the endoscope into the lumen of the duodenum, a series of x-rays are taken. Thus, the doctor can assess the condition of all ducts and Vater's papilla. If a tumor is suspected, a biopsy is performed.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen
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 MRI diagnostics of pancreatic diseases are extensive. The study allows you to visualize all the organs of the abdominal cavity, their location and structure. With the help of layer-by-layer scanning of the pancreas, it is possible to see areas of inflammation or the presence of tumor-like formations. MRI with contrast is recommended to improve visualization.
Treatment of diseases of the pancreas
You cannot start treatment on your own. If characteristic complaints appear, you should contact a 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 organ 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 hasdiabetes mellitus has developed, hormone therapy is prescribed, as well as a strict diet with the exclusion of carbohydrate foods.
Prevention of diseases and exacerbations
To avoid pancreatic pathologies, you should eat right. The diet should be dominated by vegetables and fruits. Do not abuse fried, spicy and fatty foods. It is also recommended to exclude alcoholic beverages and smoking. Violation of the diet and the intake of ethyl alcohol provokes an exacerbation of the disease.
