Pediatric Pancreatitis: Diagnosis, Causes, and Genetic Insights with Dr. Juan Gurria
With Dr. Juan Gurria · hosted by Lizzy Lee, PA-C
Chapter 1 of 5 · Fundamentals
Introduction
Introduction and Guest Credentials
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Educational content from recorded physician discussions — not medical advice. Talk to your (or your child's) care team about your situation.
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What the experts said
To diagnose acute pancreatitis, symptoms must match lab work and imaging findings.
Serum lipase must be at least 3 times the upper limit of normal for pancreatitis diagnosis.
CT is used to follow the progression of pancreatitis disease.
MRI provides the key component for evaluating pancreatitis.
Pediatric pancreatitis patients are not alcoholics, not full of stones, and not smokers.
Pediatric pancreatitis presents as a similar pathologic problem to adult disease but comes from different reasons.
Anatomic abnormalities from development in the biliary tree can cause strictures that lead to pancreatitis in pediatrics.
Traumatic injuries cause pancreatitis in pediatric patients.
Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms are seen frequently in pediatric pancreatitis.
Neuroendocrine tumors can cause pancreatitis in children.
Historically, idiopathic pancreatitis was considered a black box category after trauma, alcohol, drugs, and smoking were ruled out.
Idiopathic pancreatitis is now known to be caused by genetic mutations.
Cincinnati Children's has a running list of 1000 pediatric patients with pancreatitis.
Over 1000 pediatric pancreatitis patients at Cincinnati Children's, 85% have genetic mutations.
Cincinnati Children's tests for a panel of 10 genetic mutations in pediatric pancreatitis.
PRSS1 mutation causes very aggressive pancreatitis attacks early in life.
Children as young as 2-3 years old are seen with acute pancreatitis and acute recurrent pancreatitis from PRSS1 mutation.
PRSS1 gene mutation affects trypsinogen.
Genetic mutations in pediatric pancreatitis can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Children diagnosed with genetic pancreatitis mutations at 5 or 6 years old have hopefully 95 years of life remaining, making the risk of pancreatic cancer tremendous.
MRI with MRCP gives the best picture of the patient's ductal anatomy in pancreatitis.
In adults, alcohol and gallstones are the usual causes of pancreatitis.
Causes of pancreatitis in children include anatomy, trauma, medications, and especially genetics.
Cincinnati Children's has become the world's largest pediatric pancreatitis center.
PRSS1 gene mutation causes the pancreas to degrade itself.