Glossary

Glossary

Pancreas	Organ of the body located in the upper part of the abdomen behind the stomach close to the duodenum. It produces chemicals for food digestion and in the control of blood sugar.
Acute Pancreatitis	Sudden and unexpected inflammation of the pancreas.  Cases can range from mild to severe.  Gallstone obstruction and alcohol are thought to be major causes.
Chronic Pancreatitis	Inflammation of the pancreas organ that results in impairment of organ function usually through the formation of scar tissue.
Necrotizing Pancreatitis	Severe pancreatitis condition where enzymes and toxins start to cause multi-organ failure
Hereditary pancreatitis	Impairment of the pancreas which is transmitted from one generation to another. Usually appears in childhood.
Pseudocyst	A collection of fibrous tissue containing pancreatic enzymes which causes inflammation of the pancreas organ often due to blockage of the pancreatic duct
Idiopathic pancreatitis	Pancreatitis which has developed from causes that are unknown
Pancreatic enzymes	Chemicals produced by the pancreas to assist with digestion.
Lipase	Enzyme produced by the pancreas that plays major role in breaking down of fats
Amylase	Enzyme that plays a major role in the break down of starches into glucose.
Pancreatic Cyst	See pseudocyst above
Diabetes mellitus	Condition characterized by high blood sugar or hyperglycemia.  With the pancreas’ diminished capacity to produce insulin (which controls blood sugar levels) diabetes can sometimes be caused by pancreatitis.
Insulin	Hormone produced by the pancreas that helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates and thereby controls blood sugar levels
Gall Bladder	Small organ in the body used to store bile which is used to aid digestion.
Gallstones	Crystalline bodies that can form in the gall bladder of bile duct
Bile duct	Connects the gall bladder to the pancreatic duct.
Pancreatic duct	A duct joining the pancreas to the common bile duct and on to the Gall Bladder
Steatorrhea	Condition in which the stool (bowel movement) contains undigested fat.  Steatorrhea can be a symptom of pancreatitis due to the pancreas’ decreased ability to aid in digestion.
Pancreatic Function Tests	Tests to determine capacity of pancreas organ.  Can be direct (invasive) such as the secretin stimulation test and indirect (non-invasive) such as the fecal fat test.
Secretin stimulation test	Direct test of pancreatic function in which the hormone secretin is applied through a tube into the duodenum to stimulate the pancreas to produce enzymes.
Lundh Meal	Direct test of pancreatic function in which a special meal is given via intubation.
Bentiromide (Chymex) Test	Non-invasive test of pancreas function in which amino acid is applied orally.
Fecal Fat Test	Non-invasive test of pancreas function in which the patient’s feces are tested for fat content.
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP)	Widely accepted method of diagnosing chronic pancreatitis.  A lighted tube is pushed into the duodenum and a liquid is injected into the pancreas.
Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography (MRCP)	Less invasive imaging technique used to determine presence of blockage to pancreas function.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan	Imaging technique used to determine changes in size of pancreas and presence of any blockages.
Pancreatic Tissue Biopsy	Laproscopic removal of small portion of pancreas tissue for testing
Endoscopic surgery	Surgery where small incisions are made and an endoscope allows the surgeon to view images of the body’s internal structures.
Laproscopic surgery	Form of endoscopic surgery applied to the abdominal area
Puestow Procedure	Surgical procedure in which an artificial passage linking the pancreas to the jejunum is created.
Frey Procedure	Surgical procedure similar to the Puestow except that part of the top of the pancreas is also removed.
Whipple Procedure	Surgical procedure in which the pancreatic head is removed, along with portions of the bowels, gall bladder, bile duct, and stomach.
Distal Pancreatectomy	Surgical procedure in which the body and tail of the pancreas is removed.
Dietary modification	Changes made to the dietary or food intake of a person in order to control intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Enzyme Therapy	The use of enzyme medications to improve the body’s chemical functions
Gastroenterologist.	A physician who specializes in diseases and conditions of the digestive system
Pancreatectomy	Surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas, performed to excise a cyst or tumour, treat pancreatitis or repair trauma. The resection is done with general anaesthesia.
Pancreatemphraxis	Hypertrophy or congestion of the pancreas caused by an obstruction in the pancreatic duct.
Pancreatic	Pertaining to the pancreas
Pancreatic abscess	An infection characterised by a collection of pus in or around the pancreas
Pancreatic cancer	A malignant neoplastic disease of the pancreas, characterized by anorexia, flatulence, weakness, dramatic weight loss, back pain, jaundice, pruritis, a palpable abdominal mass, recent on-set of diabetes and clay-coloured stools if the pancreatic and bilary ducts are obstructed. Exploratory surgery is usually required for a definitive diagnosis.
Pancreatic diabetes	Diabetes mellitus caused by a deficiency of insulin production by the islet cells of the pancreas
Pancreatic duct	The primary secretory channel of the pancreas
Pancreatic hormone	Any one of several chemical compounds secreted by the pancreas, associated with the regulation of cellular metabolism. Major hormones secreted by the pancreas are insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide.
Pancreatic juice	The fluid secretion of the pancreas produced in response to the stimulus of food in the duodenum. It contains water, protein, inorganic salts and enzymes. This juice is essential in breaking down proteins into their amino acid components, in reducing dietary fats to glycerol and fatty acids and in converting starch to simple sugars.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy	Surgical procedure in which the head of the pancreas, the entire duodenum, a portion of the jejunum, the distal third of the stomach and the lower third of the common bile duct are excised. Also called the Whipple procedure.
Pancreaticoduodenostomy	Surgical procedure to establish a fistula or duct from the pancreas into the duodenum.
Pancreaticogastrostomy	Surgical establishment of a fistula or duct from the pancreas to the stomach.
Pancreaticojejunostomy	Surgical establishment of a fistula or duct from the pancreas to the jejunum.
Pancreaticolithotomy	Surgical removal of pancreatic calculi.
Pancreaticosplenic nodes	Lymph nodes that follow along splenic blood vessels on the posterior and superior border of the pancreas.
Pancreatin	A concentrate of pancreatic enzymes from pigs or beef cattle. Is often prescribed as an aid to digestion to replace endogenous pancreatic enzymes in cystic fibrosis and after pancreatectomy.
Pancreatogenic	Originating in the pancreas
Pancreatography	Visualization of the pancreas or its ducts by radiography following injection of a contrast medium into the ducts at surgery or via an endoscope during ERCP or by ultrasonography or computed tomography.
Pancreatolith	A stone or calculus in the pancreas.
Pancreatolithiasis	Presence of calculi or stones in the pancreas or pancreatic duct.
Pancreatolysis	Destruction of the pancreas by pancreatic enzymes.
Pancreatomegaly	Abnormal enlargement of the pancreas.
Pancreatopathy	Any disease of the pancreas.
Pancreatotomy	Surgical incision in the pancreas.
Pancreatropic	Exerting an influence on the pancreas.