The pancreas plays a critical role in digestion and blood sugar control. Pancreatic diseases include inflammatory conditions (acute and chronic pancreatitis), functional issues like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, structural problems such as pancreatic cysts or tumors, and genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis that significantly affect the pancreas. This overview page helps patients understand the major categories and points them to more detailed condition pages for specific diagnoses.
Depending on the specific disease, pancreatic problems can cause abdominal pain, difficulties with digestion, changes in stool, weight loss, or blood sugar abnormalities.
Call the office if you have persistent upper abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, oily or difficult-to-flush stools, or new blood sugar problems, especially with a personal or family history of pancreatic disease.
Seek emergency care for sudden severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, high fever, jaundice, or signs of shock (confusion, fainting, rapid heart rate).
Evaluation is tailored to the suspected condition and may include blood tests, stool tests, CT or MRI scans, endoscopic ultrasound, and other imaging to assess the pancreas and surrounding structures.
Treatment depends on the specific diagnosis and may involve lifestyle changes, medications (including enzymes or diabetes medications), endoscopic procedures, surgery, or cancer-directed therapies.
If your insurance requires a referral or prior authorization, our billing office will make every effort to obtain it before services are rendered. If you choose to proceed without required authorization, insurance may deny coverage. If you are a Medicare patient, you may be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) acknowledging financial responsibility if insurance does not pay. If you are enrolled in a commercial insurance plan you will be asked to sign a non-covered services form.