Long-Term Considerations
Although many health care providers use the term
chronic pancreatitis when a patient has recurrent episodes
of pancreatitis over a prolonged period, some experts
disagree. Some define chronic pancreatitis as a state of
irreversible changes in the pancreas that can occur without
a previous episode of acute pancreatitis. They recommend
that
the diagnosis
of
chronic
pancreatitis
not be made until imaging studies show chronic
changes to the pancreas, such as ductal and parenchymal
changes.10
Because of the high incidence of pancreatitis in
patients with cystic fibrosis25 (and other genetic disorders),
additional testing may include a genetic workup
and stool fat assessments to detect fat malabsorption