Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis usually presents with severe abdominal pain. Over 80% of all cases of acute pancreatitis are due to cholelithiasis or alcohol abuse. Other causes include medications, recent surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), autoimmune, viral, trauma, cancer, hyperlipidemia, pancreatic divisum, scorpion venom, hereditary, pregnancy, and idiopathic. Based on the clinical and radiographic evidence, acute pancreatitis is classified as severe or mild. Laboratory findings include hyperamylasemia or hyperlipasemia greater than three times normal values. If these are not present initially but pancreatitis is still suspected, a CT scan of the abdomen is indicated. CT scan is more than 95% sensitive and specific in making the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.