Signs and symptoms of biliary pancreatitis and ancillary tests

  The most important symptom of biliary pancreatitis (about 95% of patients) is sudden onset of epigastric or left epigastric persistent sharp pain or cutting pain, with a girdling sensation in the epigastric region, often after a full meal or alcohol consumption, with paroxysmal intensification, which can be enhanced by eating, and can spread to the umbilicus or the whole abdomen. It often radiates to the left shoulder or both sides of the low back. The pain site is usually in the middle and upper abdomen, such as inflammation of the head of the pancreas is predominant, often in the right side of the middle and upper abdomen; such as pancreatic body and tail inflammation is predominant, often in the middle and upper abdomen and left upper abdomen. The pain can be relieved when bending or sitting forward. Sometimes morphine alone is not effective. If combined with bile duct stones or bile duct roundworms, there is right upper abdominal pain and biliary colic.  There are three types of disease development: acute episodes only and no recurrence later, but the inflammation persists; repeated acute episodes, but each episode is not completely cured, unlike recurrent acute pancreatitis; some patients do not have a clear abdominal pain episodes, but eventually fatty diarrhea, diabetes mellitus, etc. as the main manifestation, this type is also known as chronic painless pancreatitis.         Symptoms: abdominal pain, intermittent at first, gradually becoming persistent, similar in location and nature to acute pancreatitis, may be accompanied by fever and jaundice. Steatorrhea and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency occur due to insufficient pancreatic exocrine secretion and pancreatic enzyme deficiency, and eventually the islets will be involved and diabetic symptoms will appear.  Signs: There may be pressure pain in the upper abdomen, or a mass may be found, and when complicated by splenic vein thrombosis, it may cause splenomegaly, or segmental portal hypertension. In a few cases, pancreatic cancer may be complicated.  Ancillary tests: (1) Serum and urine amylase: generally not increased except during acute attacks.  (2) Various pancreatic exocrine function tests: all may be diminished.  (1) Pro-pancreatic name test. Decreased pancreatic secretion (<80ml/20min), sodium bicarbonate (normal value of duodenal fluid: >80mmol/L) and decreased pancreatic enzyme content.  ② Cholecystokinin stimulation test. The results were the same as the pancreatic hormone test.  ③ urinary BT-PABA (benzoyl a tyrosyl a pair of amino benzoic acid) test. Measurement of urinary PABA excretion, about 50% of the normal amount.  ④Lundh test. Decrease in pancreatic enzyme activity. This test is now used sparingly.  (3) Serum immunoassay cholecystokinin and glucagon determination: the content increased significantly, which is due to the decrease of pancreatic enzymes and the weakening or disappearance of feedback inhibition of cholecystokinin and glucagon.  (4) 131 iodinated fat absorption test: blood 131 iodine < normal value; feces". iodine>normal value.  (5) Hypoperfusion of pancreatic endocrine function, blood glucose may be elevated.  (6) Abdominal X-ray plain film: pancreatic calcification shadow can be seen; barium penetration may have signs of gastric and/or duodenal compression.  (7) Ultrasound scan: It can show enlarged or shrunken pancreas and cysts.  (8) Retrograde pancreatic ductography: pancreatic duct stones, lumen deformation or bead shape can be seen.  (9) CT scan: the pancreas can be seen to be shrunken, enlarged or normal. The density is decreased or normal. Dilation of pancreatic ducts in the form of beads, or a mixture of stenosis and dilatation. Pancreatic calculi or calcification.