Acute Pancreatitis: An Atypical Presentation

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

• Acute pancreatitis presents with abdominal pain, often mimicking other conditions, complicating diagnosis.
• Diagnosis typically relies on clinical symptoms, elevated serum lipase/amylase, and/or abdominal imaging.
• Serum lipase and amylase levels are key indicators, but normal levels do not always rule out pancreatitis.

Observation:

• This case series details two instances of acute pancreatitis presenting with normal serum enzyme levels.
• Diagnosis in these cases was established through a combination of clinical presentation and radiological findings.
• Both patients responded well to standard treatment, including intravenous fluids and analgesics.

Findings:

• Normal serum lipase levels can occur in acute pancreatitis, challenging traditional diagnostic criteria.
• Clinical and imaging evidence are crucial for diagnosing pancreatitis when enzyme levels are unexpectedly normal.
• The study underscores the variability in acute pancreatitis presentation.

Implications:

• Physicians should consider acute pancreatitis even with normal lipase, particularly if clinical and imaging findings are suggestive.
• Further research is warranted to quantify the incidence of acute pancreatitis with normal serum enzyme levels.
• This emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach integrating symptoms, imaging, and laboratory data.