Differential diagnosis of pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis: diagnosis and treatment

Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. But in order to reliably establish a diagnosis, differential diagnosis should be performed. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. It is important to know its characteristic signs, in order to distinguish it from other gastrointestinal diseases.

Similar diseases

You can choose the most appropriate treatment tactics, if you know exactly the diagnosis. For this, differential diagnosis of pancreatitis is carried out . It is important to be able to distinguish this disease from a number of others, similar in symptoms. To such diseases carry:

- pancreas cancer;

- peptic ulcer (perforated ulcers);

- cholecystitis;

- intestinal obstruction;

- acute appendicitis;

Myocardial infarction.

Determine which particular problem is caused by those or other symptoms, you can, as a rule, only in the hospital. Doctors should know the characteristics of all diseases in order to establish the diagnosis accurately.

Differential diagnostics

To reveal the tumor in 85% of cases it is possible by means of a computer tomography. But the best differential diagnosis of cancer and pancreatitis is carried out using ERCPH - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Distinguish from perforated ulcer pancreatitis can be on the behavior of the patient. In the first case, he will try to take one position and not move. With pancreatitis, patients are restless. In addition to pain, they experience vomiting.

To understand what exactly bothers a person, you can use ultrasound. This study makes it possible to diagnose cholecystitis. With this disease, patients complain of pain on the right side, which passes into the appropriate shoulder. On ultrasound with cholecystitis seen inflammatory process.

Intestinal obstruction is manifested in the same way as pancreatitis. You can distinguish these diseases by blood tests. For this purpose, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is carried out. Analyzes will show diastases and an elevated level of chlorides in inflammation of the pancreas.

Classification of pancreatitis

To understand how inflammation of the pancreas manifests itself, it must be understood that it can be acute or chronic. In the first case, the symptoms are pronounced, the doctor can easily understand that the patient has acute pancreatitis. Diagnosis is mandatory, and only after confirmation of the assumptions of the doctor (with the help of ultrasound and analysis) is prescribed treatment.

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by alternating periods of slight improvement / deterioration. Thus the inflammatory process goes sluggishly. But it leads to atrophy of the gland tissues.

Characteristics of acute inflammation

Laboratory diagnosis of pancreatitis is necessary to determine the severity of the disease. Acute inflammation can occur in mild form. In this case, the organs and systems are minimally affected. An illness is manifested in the swelling of the gland. Such pancreatitis is easily treated, patients recover quickly.

In the severe form of acute inflammatory process in the pancreas, pronounced disorders in various organs and tissues are observed. In addition, severe form can be accompanied by such complications:

• Pancreatic abscess (in pancreas or surrounding tissues pus accumulates);
• Acute spurious cyst - occurs 4 or more weeks after an attack of pancreatitis, characterized by the accumulation of pancreatic juice ;
• Pancreatic necrosis (possibly also infection of tissues);
• Acute fluid accumulation in the pancreatic space or in the gland itself.

This should be taken into account when the diagnosis is carried out. Pancreatitis, in which necrosis of tissues began , can lead to death. This happens, as a rule, with the development of a purulent form of the disease.

Chronic forms of inflammation

Specialists distinguish two subspecies of chronic pancreatitis. It can be primary or secondary. In the first case, inflammation begins directly in the pancreas. Secondary chronic pancreatitis develops against a background of other diseases of the digestive system. It is a complication.

With this disease, inflammation can then decrease, then begin to develop with renewed vigor. But it's not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. A competent diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis is necessary, because with it tissue atrophy can begin, the pancreas eventually calcifies, its normal tissues are replaced by scars.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis

To understand, when it is necessary to address to the doctor, it is possible, if to know signs of the beginning of the active inflammatory process. These include a pronounced pain symptom. Most patients indicate the epigastric region (left hypochondrium). Pain surrounding, she can give to the area of the left scapula. In the supine position on the back, it only intensifies. Deterioration is observed after taking alcohol, fatty, fried or spicy food.

In addition to pain, there are other signs that suggest that acute pancreatitis has started. Diagnosis and treatment should be carried out in a hospital hospital. This will make it possible to establish the diagnosis as precisely as possible and to shorten the time necessary for restoring health. Symptoms of this disease are:

- temperature increase;

- vomiting, which does not bring relief (can be indomitable);

- Moderate icterus sclera, in some patients the skin may appear yellowish;

- hemorrhages in the navel, cyanotic stains on the body;

- Heartburn;

- bloating, flatulence.

Also, the disorder is indicated by a violation of the stool, the appearance of excessive fatigue, a decrease in pressure, pallor of the skin and increased sweating. Patients often complain of dry mouth, while seeing a white coating on the tongue.

Signs of chronic inflammation

Understand that you have problems with the pancreas, you can not only for indomitable vomiting and severe pain. Some people can be tormented for years and do not know that they have chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosis and treatment will be complete if the patient in time will contact the hospital.

The development of chronic pancreatitis is evidenced by:

- Periodic pain localized in the left hypochondrium, they often give back to the area of the back;

- a periodic feeling of nausea;

- diarrhea, which produces a characteristic odor;

- a sharp weight loss;

- deterioration of health after consumption of fatty, fried, smoked food.

If pancreatitis is not treated, then the patient has weakness, dizziness. Some can even develop type 2 diabetes, memory impairment becomes noticeable, breathing problems appear.

Methods of laboratory diagnostics

When admitting patients with suspected pancreatitis, they are given a comprehensive examination. First of all, a biochemical blood test is done. It allows you to determine the type of disease, thanks to this test, more accurate diagnosis of pancreatitis. Analyzes make it possible to clearly present the picture of the disease.

With inflammation of the pancreas, the level of alpha-amylase, lipase increases, the activity of the C-reactive protein sharply increases. If the disease is accompanied by a malfunction in the kidneys, then the blood level of urea increases. Simultaneously, one can see a decrease in the number of proteins, including albumin. Also significantly decreases the amount of insulin, because of which the glucose level begins to increase.

Water and electrolytic analysis allows you to determine how much the composition of the blood has changed. Reducing the level of fluid can lead to blood clots and clogging of small vessels. Also this analysis allows to determine the concentration of minerals: potassium, sodium, calcium. They are responsible for the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels.

A general blood test gives an idea of the nature of the disease. Pay attention to the level of leukocytes and erythrocytes. Without this survey, a full diagnosis can not be carried out.

Pancreatitis is also established by the analysis of urine. In this disease, the level of alpha-amylase deviates significantly from the norm. But this is observed only at the initial stages of the disease. With the progression of pancreatitis in the urine can detect red blood cells, white blood cells and other components.

Instrumental diagnostics

Methods for diagnosing pancreatitis are quite diverse. In addition to researching biological fluids, the doctor needs to see how the pancreas has changed. It is also necessary to establish whether its inflammation affected the surrounding organs and tissues.

The most accurate and effective is ultrasound diagnosis. It allows you to visualize the gland, see if there are inflammatory processes, whether the tissues of this organ have become dirty. Diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis can also be performed with the help of ultrasound. This disease can be determined even in the asymptomatic period. Also, ultrasound allows you to examine the bile ducts, determine the onset of purulent abscesses and see the fluid.

Laparoscopy allows you to simultaneously diagnose and treat pancreatitis. In some cases during this mini-operation it is possible to minimize the negative effect of inflammation on other organs. But laparoscopy is used only in extremely difficult cases.

With the help of computed tomography, diagnostics can also be performed. Pancreatitis can be established by characteristic signs: the increased size of the pancreas, the presence of inflammatory processes and dead tissue.

Endoscopy allows you to see all the changes in the pancreas and in the duodenum. To do this, the endoscope with the chamber mounted on it is inserted into the esophagus.