[Possibility of laboratory diagnostics of pancreas diseases]

The article presents literature review and critical analysis of informative capacity of laboratory tests for diagnostics of pancreas pathology. All of these tests are divided on 6 groups: methods for determination of destruction of pancreatic parenchyma, for assessment of pancreatitis severity and prognosis, for estimation of pancreatitis etiology, functional tests, study of oncomarkers, special methods (genetic, cytologic etc.). The author accentuates positive and negative sides of the most accepted laboratory methods, gives diagnostic algorithms for acute and chronic pancreatitis.