Where is pancreatic pain felt

This is called idiopathic pancreatitis. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.

Forsmark, M. Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Share on Pinterest Share via Email Print this Page Catching pancreatic cancer early is challenging because patients rarely experience the signs of pancreatic cancer until the disease has progressed or spread.

Tumor Location Impacts Symptoms The location of the tumor in the pancreas affects the types of symptoms and how soon they might start to show. Common Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer The following are the most common signs of exocrine pancreatic cancer—specifically for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Jaundice While many pancreatic cancer symptoms are first attributed to something else e.

Jaundice in pancreatic cancer is painless and occurs when the tumor in the head of the pancreas blocks the bile duct, causing symptoms such as: Yellowing of the skin and eyes Dark urine Pale, greasy stools that float in the toilet Pruritus itchy skin Weight Loss Unintentional weight loss or significant, unexplained weight loss is usually a sign that something is wrong in the body.

Gastrointestinal GI Problems Some GI-related pancreatic cancer symptoms can be caused by the tumor pressing on the stomach or other parts of the digestive system as the tumor spreads. Meet Our Pancreatic Cancer Experts Our team is a world leader in the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer, leading all institutions in novel therapies and innovative clinical trials.

Find a Johns Hopkins expert. Symptoms that Resemble Other Conditions The symptoms of pancreatic cancer may be similar to those of other conditions or medical problems, which can delay diagnosis even further.

The bile and enzymes "back up" into the pancreas and cause swelling. Genetics may be a factor in some cases. Sometimes, the cause is not known. The pain : May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, more commonly if foods have a high fat content Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days May be worse when lying flat on the back May spread radiate to the back or below the left shoulder blade People with acute pancreatitis often look ill and have a fever, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease include: Clay-colored stools Bloating and fullness Hiccups Indigestion Mild yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes jaundice Swollen abdomen. Exams and Tests. The health care provider will do a physical exam, which may show: Abdominal tenderness or lump mass Fever Low blood pressure Rapid heart rate Rapid breathing respiratory rate Lab tests that show the release of pancreatic enzymes will be done.

These include: Increased blood amylase level Increased serum blood lipase level a more specific indicator of pancreatitis than amylase levels Increased urine amylase level Other blood tests that can help diagnose pancreatitis or its complications include: Complete blood count CBC Comprehensive metabolic panel The following imaging tests that can show swelling of the pancreas may be done, but are not always needed to make a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis: CT scan of the abdomen MRI of the abdomen Ultrasound of the abdomen.

Treatment often requires a stay in the hospital. It may involve: Pain medicines Fluids given through a vein IV Stopping food or fluid by mouth to limit the activity of the pancreas A tube may be inserted through the nose or mouth to remove the contents of the stomach. Treating the condition that caused the problem can prevent repeated attacks.

In some cases, therapy is needed to: Drain fluid that has collected in or around the pancreas Remove gallstones Relieve blockages of the pancreatic duct In the most severe cases, surgery is needed to remove damaged, dead or infected pancreatic tissue. Avoid smoking, alcoholic drinks, and fatty foods after the attack has improved. Outlook Prognosis. The death rate is high when: Bleeding in the pancreas has occurred.

Liver, heart, or kidney problems are also present. An abscess forms the pancreas. Because pancreatitis causes a drop in your digestive enzyme supply, you can't sufficiently break down food. When you can't sufficiently break down food, it isn't absorbed as it needs to be, and this is what creates a change in the nature of stools. This difficulty absorbing food and its nutrients can lead to weight loss as well.

Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis often manifest themselves only when complications arise or the condition worsens. The pain of chronic pancreatitis takes two forms. In the first kind, the pain may come and go, flaring up for several hours or several weeks, with no discomfort in between flare-ups.

In the second, the pain is steady and debilitating. In some cases, those with this form of pancreatic may feel pain in parts of the body other than the abdomen. There may sometimes be no pain at all. Some of the defining symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include:. Whereas mild or moderate pancreatitis lasts for days, severe pancreatitis can last for a number of weeks. Severe pancreatitis, which occurs in 15 to 20 percent of acute pancreatitis cases, can lead to multiple complications.

The first stage of severe pancreatitis is marked by organ failure that doesn't subside on its own within 48 hours. Scientists are still not sure exactly how this organ failure occurs, but they think that pancreatitis, being an inflammatory condition, sets off a chain reaction of inflammation that damages and compromises the systems related to or near the pancreas.

The lungs are affected first. Inflammation causes surrounding blood vessels to leak into the air sacs, and the fluid in the lungs makes it hard to breathe. Respiratory problems caused by organ failure are the most frequent complications of acute pancreatitis. If organ failure is treated within a few days, the risk of dying is low. It's been estimated that if the organ failure persists for a week or more, there is a 1 in 3 chance of dying.

In severe pancreatitis, the tissues in the pancreas die — this is called pancreatic necrosis — and often become infected.