Diagnostic Tests and Procedures in Acute Pancreatitis

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Abstract
THE past decade has witnessed a proliferation of methods for investigating the pancreas. Many of these tests are not sufficiently informative to be of clinical value, and their haphazard or excessive use during the course of acute pancreatitis should be discouraged (Table 1).The Diagnosis of Acute PancreatitisThere is no foolproof way of diagnosing acute pancreatitis except by direct inspection of the gland at laparotomy. The diagnosis is based on clinical probabilities (the history, physical examination, and an educated guess) and is supported by indirect tests. In any patient the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis must be a working one . . .