An Introduction to Chronic Pancreatitis Diagnosis
Besides asking about a person's medical history and doing a physical exam, a doctor will use certain tests to help diagnose
chronic pancreatitis.
New Techniques in Chronic Pancreatitis Diagnosis
Pancreatic function tests help a doctor decide whether the
pancreas is still making enough digestive enzymes.
Using ultrasonic imaging, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and CT scans, a doctor can see problems indicating chronic
pancreatitis. Such problems include calcification of the pancreas, in which tissue hardens from deposits of insoluble
calcium salts.
Diagnosing Chronic Pancreatitis in More Advanced Stages
In more advanced stages of chronic pancreatitis, when
diabetes and malabsorption occur, a doctor can use a number of blood, urine, and stool tests to help diagnose chronic pancreatitis and to monitor its progression.
