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Practical diagnosis of pancreatic disease

  • Published:
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases

Conclusion

The hard terrain of pancreatic diagnosis has been traversed. Looking back, we can see certain definite landmarks:

  1. (1)

    The examination of the stool.

  2. (2)

    Serial serum enzyme levels.

  3. (3)

    Stimulated serum enzyme levels.

  4. (4)

    Blood sugar levels.

All these tests are easily done. Duodenal drainage, which has been discussed, may be helpful, may be confirmatory, but is probably not worth the effort; the presence of blood in the aspirate may localize disease. Papanicalaou studies of the duodenal aspirate are valuable, but unfortunately the necessary technical assistance is not universally available.

The ultimate in pancreatic diagnosis has not been described, nor yet have the most complete pancreatic diagnostic tests necessarily been covered. However, from the vantage point of the practicing medical officer, the simplest and the most practical tests for everyday diagnostic use have been amplified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Madigan Army Hospital, Tacoma, Washington, USA

    H. M. Spiro

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  1. H. M. Spiro
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No objection to publication on grounds of military security 6 August, 1952 (LGA), office of the Surgeon General, department of the Army, by authority, office of Public Information Department of Defense.

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Spiro, H.M. Practical diagnosis of pancreatic disease. Amer. Jour. Dig. Dis. 20, 78–84 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885564

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02885564

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