Pancreatic Disorders
Our gastroenterologists specialize in treatment for the following pancreatic diseases and disorders:
Acute Pancreatitis: Acute Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. It is marked by sudden intense pain in the upper abdomen caused by any number of factors: blocked bile and pancreatic ducts, leaking bile ducts, gallstones, a tumor or cyst, trauma to the abdomen, medications, the effects of drinking alcoholic beverages, or infection. Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic and both can cause serious, life-threatening complications.
Symptoms of Acute Pancreatitis
The most common symptom of acute pancreatitis is sudden pain in the upper abdomen. The pain is often worse when lying down but may feel less intense when sitting up or bending over.
Other symptoms include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Rapid pulse
Pain radiating from abdomen to the back or chest
Abdomen tender to the touch
Distended (bloated) abdomen
Serious Complications
The intense pain associated with pancreatitis occurs because enzymes that are normally released into the small intestine to digest food remain within the pancreas and attack the pancreas instead. Pancreatitis also affects the pancreas’ ability to release insulin that is needed to regulate the body’s glucose (sugar) levels.
Chronic Pancreatitis: Chronic pancreatitis is severe inflammation of the pancreas marked by intense pain in the upper abdomen. It is commonly caused by long-term alcohol consumption but also may be caused by a blocked pancreatic duct, trauma to the abdomen, a pseudocyst, cystic fibrosis, medications, high levels of calcium in the blood, or from a hereditary or congenital condition. It also may develop after several attacks of acute pancreatitis that damage the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is a serious, life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of Chronic Pancreatitis
The majority of chronic pancreatitis cases (about 70 percent) are caused by long-term alcohol use. Chronic pancreatitis is more common in men than women, often developing between the ages of 30 and 40.
Symptoms associated with chronic pancreatitis are similar to those seen in acute pancreatitis, the most common of which is sudden pain in the upper abdomen. The pain is often worse when lying down but may feel less intense when sitting up or bending over.
Other symptoms include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Rapid pulse
Pain radiating from abdomen to the back or chest
Abdomen tender to the touch
Distended (bloated) abdomen
Serious Complications
The intense pain associated with chronic pancreatitis occurs because digestive enzymes that are normally released into the small intestine remain within the pancreas and attack the pancreas instead. Pancreatitis also affects the pancreas’ ability to release insulin that is needed to regulate the body’s glucose (sugar) levels. In a worse case scenario, pancreatic tissue can die and become infected (pancreatic necrosis or abscess).
Cystic Fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, life threatening disorder caused by a defective gene. The disorder causes thick mucous to form that can block airways in the lungs and ducts within the biliary tract. In pancreatic-related cystic fibrosis, the small ducts within the pancreas are blocked, preventing the release of digestive enzymes. The long-term result may be nutritional and digestive problems, and a build-up of enzymes within the pancreas that can begin to attack the pancreas itself.
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
Patients with known cystic fibrosis are monitored carefully for respiratory and digestive conditions. Pancreatic-related cystic fibrosis complications can include:
Chronic diarrhea (from a lack of enzymes in the small intestine to digest fats)
Nutritional deficiencies (from a lack of fat-soluble vitamins)
Constipation, gas, swollen abdomen (from a lack of enzymes in the small intestine to digest fats)
Chronic pancreatitis (from the build-up of digestive enzymes within the pancreas)
Intraductal Papillary Mucosal Neoplasm (IPMN): Intraductal Papillary Mucosal Neoplasms (IPMNs) are precancerous cysts or neoplasms arising within the pancreatic ducts. “Papillary” refers to a type of cell structure within these mucous-producing cysts. An IPMN may develop anywhere within the ductal region of the pancreas. IPMNs are surprisingly common in both men and women, and increase in prevalence with advancing age. They arfe slow-growing neoplasms and patients often have an excellent prognosis following treatment.
Because most IPMNs show high-grade dysplasia (abnormal cellular growth), surgery is first-line therapy to prevent them from developing into cancerous tumor(s).
Symptoms of IPMN
IPMNs often produce no symptoms. Many are found incidentally during imaging studies for other reasons. IPMNs and other disorders of the bile duct oftentimes have the same symptoms because most of them block the biliary ducts from releasing bile or digestive enzymes into the small intestine.
When IPMNs produce symptoms, the most common are:
Abdominal pain on the right side of the body (where the liver, gallbladder and pancreas are located)
Nausea, vomiting
Yellow skin or eyes (from the build up of bilirubin, a waste product)
Pancreatitis
Fatigue
Weight loss
Fever
Night sweats
Loss of appetite
Light-colored stools
Pancreatic Cancer: The pancreas is a large organ that is found behind the stomach. It makes and releases enzymes that help the body absorb foods, especially fats. Hormones called insulin and glucagon are also made in the pancreas. These hormones help your body control blood sugar levels.
The exact cause is unknown, but pancreatic cancer is more common in smokers and people who are obese. Pancreatic cancer is slightly more common in women than in men. The risk increases with age. A small number of cases are related to genetic syndromes that are passed down through families.
A tumor or cancer in the pancreas may often grow without any symptoms at first. This may mean pancreatic cancer is more advanced when it is first found.
Signs and Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
If you notice these signs or symptoms of pancreatic cancer, schedule an appointment with a pancreatic cancer specialist at 718-461-6161 for appointments.
Cancer of the pancreas has been called a “silent” cancer because symptoms of the disease develop gradually. Often the cancer is not found until it is in advanced stages or has spread to other organs.
Symptoms will depend on where the tumor is located, how large it is and whether it has spread to other sites. For example, if the tumor blocks the common bile duct preventing bile from passing into the intestines, jaundice may occur, turning the whites of the eyes and the skin yellow. The urine may also be dark in color.
As the cancer grows, it may cause pain or pressure in the upper abdomen and in the back. The pain is often worse after eating or when lying down. Jaundice or abdominal pain may occur in the majority of patients.
Other symptoms include loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, weakness and itching. (Itching is associated with jaundice.)
Pancreatic Cysts: Cysts that grow on or within the pancreas are quite common. Most do not cause symptoms nor are they cancerous. The most common of these growths is the pseudocyst, a benign fluid-filled sac containing pancreatic enzymes. They often are discovered incidentally when patients undergo imaging tests such as a CT scan or abdominal ultrasound for other reasons.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cysts
Pseudocysts often cause no symptoms but when they do your gastroenterologist will want to test it to rule out a precancerous or cancerous growth. Common symptoms include:
Abdominal pain (from pressing on organs) that may radiate to the chest and upper back
Nausea and vomiting
A growth that can be felt within the upper abdomen
Serious Complications
A pseudocyst can become infected and cause intense abdominal pain, fever and a rapid pulse. A cyst also may burst and release pancreatic enzymes all at once. When this situation occurs, the enzymes can damage blood vessels and cause internal bleeding. Both infected and ruptured pseudocysts are medical emergencies that should be seen in the emergency department at once.
