Acute pancreatitis is swelling (inflammation) of the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach. It releases the hormones insulin and glucagon as well as substances that help you digest food.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
What exactly causes pancreatitis is not well known. It is thought that inactive substances (called enzymes) normally released by the pancreas somehow become active. These substances eat (and digest) the tissue of the pancreas. This abnormal process is called autodigestion. It causes swelling, bleeding (hemorrhage), and damage to the blood vessels.
Acute pancreatitis affects men more often than women. Certain diseases, surgeries, and habits make you more likely to develop this condition.
The main causes of acute pancreatitis in adults are:
Abdominal pain (6 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Reviewer: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 10/07/2009
Abdomen - swollen(Doctor-Reviewed information)
A swollen abdomen is when your belly area is bigger than usual. See also: Abdominal girthReviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 11/16/2008
Amylase - blood(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is produced mainly in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva. When the pancreas is diseased or inflamed, amylase releases into the blood. A test can be done to measure the level of thi...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 01/28/2009
Abdominal CT scan (13 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomography. See also: CT scanReviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 02/23/2009
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