Acute - gland reverts to normal if underlying cause removed Chronic - irreversible loss of tissue

Acute

  • Relatively common - damage to exocrine parenchyma
  • Gallstones (50%), alcohol (25%), idopathic (10%)
  • Hereditary pancreatitis - recurrent attacks of severe pancratitis PRSS1 a. dominant or SPINK1 a. recessive
  • Emergency, severe acute abdo pain with raised serum amaylase/lipase. Persistent hypocalcaemia poor prognnostic sign
  • Mild - swollen gland with fat necrosis
  • Severe - swollen, necrotic gland and haemorrhage (Grey Turner’s and Cullen’s sign)
  • Pseudocysts (full of pancreatic juice)
  • Hypocalcaemia is bad

Chronic pancreatitis

  • Irreversible destruction of exocrine tissue (replaced with fibrosis that can mimic carcinoma) followed by destruction of endocrine -
  • Malnutrition and diabetes, pain
  • Recurrent acute can become chronic Toxic - alcohol, drugs, infections Idiopathic Genetic CFTR, PRSS1, SPINK1 Autoimmune Recurrent acute Obstruction of main duct - stone, cancer, scarring