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Review article: Pancreatic function testing.
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0214, USA.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|March 19, 2003
Summary
Pancreatic function tests aid in diagnosing chronic pancreatitis. Some tests detect early stages of the disease, offering higher sensitivity than imaging methods, but are limited to specialized centers.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Chronic pancreatitis diagnosis relies heavily on pancreatic function tests.
- Existing tests often detect disease only in advanced stages.
- Imaging modalities like CT and ERCP have limitations in early detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review various pancreatic function tests.
- To describe their rationale, accuracy, cost, and clinical utility.
- To highlight tests capable of earlier chronic pancreatitis detection.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pancreatic function tests.
- Categorization of tests based on diagnostic capability (gland insufficiency vs. secretory capacity).
- Comparison of functional tests with imaging techniques.
Main Results:
- Tests measuring secretory capacity show potential for earlier chronic pancreatitis detection.
- Tests documenting gland insufficiency typically indicate advanced disease.
- Early-detection functional tests are currently available only at limited referral centers.
Conclusions:
- Pancreatic function tests offer diverse diagnostic approaches for chronic pancreatitis.
- Tests assessing stimulated secretory capacity present a promising avenue for early diagnosis.
- Wider accessibility of sensitive functional tests is needed for improved patient outcomes.