The most common pancreatic lesions are little fluid-filled pockets called cysts, which are usually benign. Another common lesion is the pseudocyst, which is filled with scar tissue or inflammatory material. Many cysts are asymptomatic, but some...
Pancreatitis, a condition causing inflammation of the pancreas, can come on suddenly and without warning. Your stomach may become swollen and tender. It is common to experience nausea and vomiting. It is also likely that you will run a fever, a...
Physicians divide the abdomen into quadrants to evaluate symptoms such as pain. While you may be unable to pinpoint exactly which internal organs are causing you pain, you can usually distinguish among the quadrants. Pain in your upper right...
Itching, also called pruritus, commonly occurs due to skin disorders, and may affect sleep or quality of life if the condition is severe. Rooted in the nerve endings, itching all over the body is called generalized pruritus. This condition may...
An integral part of the digestive system, the pancreas produces enzymes for digestion and insulin for glucose, or sugar, breakdown, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Diseases of the pancreas can destroy...
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder that affects more than 600,000 people in the United States, as estimated by the American Kidney Fund. There are two types of genetic PKD: autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive. Each form...
Hidden behind the stomach but playing a crucial role in the digestive process as well as hormonal production is a large gland called the pancreas. Besides secreting digestive enzymes into the small intestine that aid in the digestion of fats,...
Bilirubin is the principal breakdown product of red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin into bile, which is transported by the biliary network of tubes within the liver to the gallbladder. The gallbladder releases bile into the small...
The pancreas is an organ that plays an important role in food digestion, produces insulin and glucagon and controls blood sugar levels. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of your pancreas that affects the function of the organ as well as nutrient...
Numerous digestive diseases exist that range in severity, symptoms and possible complications. According to the Mayo Clinic, roughly 35 million people in the United States are affected by digestive disorders that detract from a person's usual...
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, which is the gland that is located in the upper abdomen behind the stomach. Whereas acute pancreatitis may develop suddenly, chronic pancreatitis may persist or come and go for an extended period of...
A cyst is a closed pouch or pocket of tissue that is filled with air, pus or fluid, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cysts can develop in any area of the body, and while some cysts disappear on their own, others may need treatment...
High-fat foods such as pistachios can provoke the onset of pancreatitis, a painful and very serious irritation of the pancreas that requires medical attention. Repeated bouts of pancreatitis can cause permanent damage and may lead to pancreatic...
