PANCREAS DISEASES
Acute Pancreatitis
Chronic Pancreatitis
Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Pancreatic Cystic Diseases
Pancreas; It is an organ with a leaf-shaped appearance surrounded by many organs and vascular structures located at the back of the stomach. This organ consists of interconnected cell groups with different functions. While one part produces digestive enzymes, the other part is responsible for the production of hormones that affect blood sugar and metabolism, such as insulin and glucagon.
Acute Pancreatitis
The condition in which the pancreatic gland becomes inflamed for different reasons and cannot perform its functions is called acute pancreatitis. This is also called pancreatitis among the public. Abdominal pain that starts in the upper middle part of the abdomen and spreads in the form of a belt is typical in patients who have an attack of pancreatitis. Causes of pancreatitis may include gallstones, alcohol use, medications, viral infections, and autoimmune pancreatitis. The most common reason is that gallbladder stones fall into the common channel responsible for transmitting bile and digestive enzymes to the intestine, creating an obstruction. In addition, there are diseases caused by alcohol, drugs, autoimmune events, and some viruses and bacteria. Patients may experience symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, intestinal obstruction-like symptoms, jaundice, shortness of breath and respiratory failure. In blood tests, elevations in tests indicating inflammation such as elevated amylase and lipase, elevated liver enzymes, elevated white blood cells, CRP and Sedimentation may be observed. For diagnosis, ultrasonography, computed tomography, MRI imaging, and ERCP procedures can be performed if there is duct obstruction due to gallstones. During treatment, the digestive system should be rested and oral feeding should be stopped. In addition, intravenous fluid supplementation is given. If necessary, antibiotics can be started for the treatment of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can be life-threatening in some patient groups. If we look at the eating habits after suffering from pancreatitis, consuming fatty foods will cause an increase in complaints. Eating small and frequent meals prevents these patients from experiencing digestive problems.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreatic gland fails to perform its function as a result of frequent inflammation or severe pancreatic inflammation. Causes of chronic pancreatitis include alcohol use, some hereditary diseases, and storage diseases. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are especially intense and painful abdominal pain after feeding, diarrhea and high blood sugar accompanied by insulin deficiency. Due to the insufficiency of insulin and glucagon hormones secreted from the pancreas, blood sugar control can be very difficult. Different treatments may be required in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, depending on the intensity of the symptoms. However, the use of pancreatic enzyme supplements and insulin is important.
Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Autoimmune diseases are a condition in which immune system cells target and attack a certain tissue or organ as a result of certain changes in the immune system. In this case, the function of the targeted organ is disrupted, causing symptoms to occur. This is how autoimmune pancreatitis occurs. In autoimmune disease, the patient's symptoms are no different from other pancreatic gland inflammation symptoms. Symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis include abdominal pain, burning in the stomach area, sometimes constipation and abdominal swelling. The diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis is made by excluding other causes and measuring the IG G4 level in the blood. Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of autoimmune pancreatitis. It should be examined whether there are other autoimmune diseases such as celiac, hashimoto, diabetes along with autoimmune pancreatitis.
Cystic Diseases of the Pancreas
Diseases that occur with fluid-filled spaces, which we call cysts, formed within the pancreatic gland are called cystic diseases of the pancreas. Pancreatic cysts usually do not cause any symptoms and are detected incidentally during examinations. Pancreatic cysts can sometimes cause acute pancreatitis-like symptoms by pressing on the ducts. Sometimes, after acute pancreatitis, there are cyst-like, fluid-filled spaces in the pancreas. Pancreatic cysts may be confused with this situation. When we detect pancreatic cysts, we need to determine the cyst type with some tests. Because a group of pancreatic cysts are precancerous, that is, there is a possibility of turning into cancer. Therefore, we need to identify the group and determine the follow-up and treatment process accordingly. In the disease group that we call cystic diseases of the pancreas, serous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasias and solid pseudopapillary tumors are understood.
