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What Is Meant By Pancreatic Calcification?

Posted on Fri, 26 Oct 2012

Question: My 82 year old mother has been told there is calcification on her films on her pancreas. Apparently her docs have looked at several years worth of films and it has been there for many years. What does this mean? One doctor wants her to have a diagnostic screening procedure for pancreatic cancer...another says it's been there for years with no change, so let it be. So, what does calcification mean...Pardon typos, taking asthma meds Advair for COPD
and what should we do

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ishfaq Habib (2 hours later)

Hi
Thanks for the query

The calcification is a pathological process that means there is deposition of the calcium in the cells that are necrosed after inflammation. The pancreatic cancer have certain feature like obstructive jaundice and right upper quadrant severe abdominal pain. So it does not seem to be a pancreatic cancer. still for further evaluation, ERCP is the best option to observe under direct vision.

If you still have some query, feel free to ask

Thanks
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Muhammad Ishfaq Habib (8 hours later)

thanks for you answer. What is ERCP please? And where can I find out more about this procedure?

Thank you again

Answered by Dr. Muhammad Ishfaq Habib (5 minutes later)

Hi
thanks for the reply

ERCP is known as Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. its just like an endoscopy by entering a camera through ampulla of vater in duodenum and going through pancreatic duct towards the pancreas and gall bladder. it can be diagnostic or therapeutic. biopsy can also be taken through this procedure. You can find much information about it on the internet.

Thanks
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar