What to look for in chronic pancreatitis

The examination of chronic pancreatitis includes laboratory tests, imaging tests (such as X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy) and pathological tissue examination of the pancreas. 1. Laboratory tests: such as routine blood tests, biochemical tests, pancreatic exocrine function tests, pancreatic endocrine function tests, genetic tests, and others (e.g., serum amylase, calcium, lipids, parathyroid hormone, fat-soluble vitamins, etc.). 2. Imaging examination: some patients with chronic pancreatitis have calcified foci and stone shadows in the pancreatic area on X-ray. Abdominal ultrasound can see changes in the morphology of the pancreatic duct. CT and MRI examination can see pancreatic calcification, pancreatic duct dilatation, pancreatic atrophy, and the main pancreatic duct of some patients can show bead-like changes. Ultrasound endoscopy can observe pancreatic parenchyma and pancreatic duct abnormalities. Transendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is an important basis for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. 3. Pathologic tissue examination of the pancreas: invasive examination, mainly used for the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. If chronic pancreatitis is suspected, it is recommended to do relevant examinations under the guidance of doctors to clarify the diagnosis.