Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach that plays an important role in helping digest food and in blood sugar regulation. There are primarily two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.

Acute pancreatitis happens suddenly when your pancreas becomes inflamed. This inflammation can be due to a range of possible causes but is commonly related to gallstones or excessive alcohol use. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include severe pain in the upper abdomen that may radiate to the back, nausea, vomiting, abdominal tenderness and fever. The treatment of acute pancreatitis depends on the cause. Most cases of acute pancreatitis may resolve on its own.

Chronic pancreatitis is a long-term disease where ongoing inflammation in your pancreas can progressively get worse and cause damage to pancreatic tissue. Symptoms of chronic pancreatitis include persistent abdominal pain, weight loss without trying, oily foul-smelling stools, nausea, vomiting and diabetes. Treatment plans focus on managing your symptoms and preventing further damage.

Pancreatic necrosis is a complication of acute pancreatitis, where severe inflammation causes a portion of the pancreatic tissue to die. Treatment approaches depend on the extent of the damaged tissue and complications associated with pancreatic necrosis. Conservative care focuses on pain management and nutritional support while the issue resolves on its own and pancreatic function returns. Sometimes procedures to promote drainage are required or the dead tissue needs to be surgically removed.

Pancreatic cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on or in the pancreas. They can range from benign (non-cancerous) to potentially malignant (cancerous). There are various types of pancreatic cysts such as pseudocysts, serous cystadenomas, mucinous cystic neoplasms, and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). The treatment options for cysts include observation, surgery or endoscopic drainage. It is important to follow up with your health care provider to monitor the cysts regularly.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder and Bile Duct) programs at Texas Health bring together a multidisciplinary team that includes specialists in gastroenterology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiology, pathology and other medical staff who can diagnose and manage all stages of pancreatic cancer.

Learn more about pancreatic cancer and available diagnosis and treatment options.