How Much Can We Know About Acute Pancreatitis?

Editorials1 May 1985How Much Can We Know About Acute Pancreatitis?STUART JON SPECHLER, M.D.STUART JON SPECHLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-102-5-704 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHow much can we know about a disorder whose very diagnosis cannot be established clearly? Acute pancreatitis is often such a disorder. If the diagnosis of pancreatitis has a "gold standard", it must be the histologic demonstration of pancreatic inflammation. Histologic confirmation is not available for most cases, however. Instead, the physician must base the diagnosis on a gestalt of variably specific clinical and laboratory features.The association of hyperamylasemia and acute pancreatitis was first described in 1929 (1), and estimation of the total serum amylase level remains the most widely used biochemical test for the diagnosis of pancreatitis (2)....References1. ELMANARNESONGRAHAM RNE. Value of blood amylase estimations in the diagnosis of pancreatic disease: a clinical study. Arch Surg. 1929;19:943-67. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. MOOSSA A. Diagnostic tests and procedures in acute pancreatitis. N Engl J Med. 1984;311:639-43. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. BERK J. Amylase in diagnosis of pancreatic disease [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1978;88:838-9. LinkGoogle Scholar4. SALTSCHENKER WS. Amylase—its clinical significance: a review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore). 1976;55:269-89. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. KOEHLERECKFELDTLEVITT DJM. Diagnostic value of routine isoamylase assay of hyperamylasemic serum. Gastroenterology. 1982;82 (5 pt 1):887-90. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. SPECHLERDALTONROBBINS SJA. Prevalence of normal serum amylase levels in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis. Dig Dis Sci. 1983;28:865-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. KOLARSELLISLEVITT JCM. Comparison of serum amylase, pancreatic isoamylase and lipase in patients with hyperamylasemia. Dig Dis Sci. 1984;29:289-93. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. MASOEROANDRIULLIBIANCOBENITTIMARCHETTODE LA PIERRE GAAVMM. Diagnostic accuracy of serum cationic trypsinogen estimation for pancreatic diseases. Dig Dis Sci. 1982;27:1089-94. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. LEVITTJOHNSON MS. IS the CAm/CCr ratio of value for the diagnosis of pancreatitis? Gastroenterology. 1978;75:118-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. STEINBERGGOLDSTEINDAVISSHAMMA'AANDERSON WSNJK. Diagnostic assays in acute pancreatitis: a study of sensitivity and specificity. Ann Intern Med. 1985;102:576-80. LinkGoogle Scholar11. SILVERSTEINISIKOFFHILLBARKIN WMMJ. Diagnostic imaging of acute pancreatitis: prospective study using CT and sonography. AJR. 1981;137:497-502. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. HILLBARKINISIKOFFSILVERSTEINKALSER MJMWM. Acute pancreatitis: clinical vs. CT findings. AJR. 1982;139:263-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: STUART JON SPECHLER, M.D.Affiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDiagnosing Acute Pancreatitis: Amylase or Lipase?Evaluation of amylase and lipase in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitisDiagnostic value of four assays for lipase determination in serum: A comparative reevaluationPancreatitis and typhoid feverIs the Amylase/Creatinine Ratio Useful as a Diagnostic Aid for Pancreatitis?Electrophoretic Assays of Amylase Isoenzymes and IsoformsDiagnostic Assays in Acute PancreatitisSIEGFRIED MERYN, M.D., ALEXANDER KISS, M.D., ALFRED GANGL, M.D. 1 May 1985Volume 102, Issue 5Page: 704-705KeywordsAcute pancreatitisClinical laboratoriesInflammationPancreatitisResearch laboratories ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 May 1985 PDF downloadLoading ...