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Symptoms And Treatment For Marked Atrophic Pancreas?

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Posted on Thu, 11 Jul 2013
Question: what are the symptoms of and treatment for marked atrophic panreas
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (57 minutes later)
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The pancreas is involved in the production of a wide range of hormones such insulin, glucagon (raises blood sugar), hormones that affect appetite and enzymes that help to break down food eaten.

Atrophic pancreas means that there is wasting away and marked decrease size of the pancreas.The most common cause is chronic pancreatitis which is persistent and chronic inflammation of the pancreas resulting in irreversible changes.

Symptoms: (1) PAIN
Atrophic pancreas would most cause abdominal pain that is usually worse after eating.
This pain is usually in the epigastrium (to the top of the abdomen) and can go towards the back.
Some persons have persisting unrelenting pain ,others have pain episodes with pain free episodes in between.

(2) loss of fat in stools called steatorrhea - stools may look oily, float and have a foul smell

(3) nausea, vomiting a

(4) weight loss

Treatment
(1) controlling the pain- this is done through pain medication and pancreatic enzyme replacement.
The replacement reduce the stimulation of the pancreas
If the pain does not respond to medication then surgery may be done to remove it.

(2) improving digestion of foods- the replacement enzymes also help with this

(3)treating any complications of the atrophic pancreas such as cysts

i hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions


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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Symptoms And Treatment For Marked Atrophic Pancreas?

HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The pancreas is involved in the production of a wide range of hormones such insulin, glucagon (raises blood sugar), hormones that affect appetite and enzymes that help to break down food eaten.

Atrophic pancreas means that there is wasting away and marked decrease size of the pancreas.The most common cause is chronic pancreatitis which is persistent and chronic inflammation of the pancreas resulting in irreversible changes.

Symptoms: (1) PAIN
Atrophic pancreas would most cause abdominal pain that is usually worse after eating.
This pain is usually in the epigastrium (to the top of the abdomen) and can go towards the back.
Some persons have persisting unrelenting pain ,others have pain episodes with pain free episodes in between.

(2) loss of fat in stools called steatorrhea - stools may look oily, float and have a foul smell

(3) nausea, vomiting a

(4) weight loss

Treatment
(1) controlling the pain- this is done through pain medication and pancreatic enzyme replacement.
The replacement reduce the stimulation of the pancreas
If the pain does not respond to medication then surgery may be done to remove it.

(2) improving digestion of foods- the replacement enzymes also help with this

(3)treating any complications of the atrophic pancreas such as cysts

i hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions