How Is Pancreatitis Diagnosed?
To check for acute pancreatitis, the doctor will probably press on your belly area to see if it is tender and check for low blood pressure, low fever, and rapid pulse.
To diagnose chronic pancreatitis, X-rays or imaging tests such as a CT scan or MRI may show whether the pancreas is calcified. Your doctor will take blood samples and check your stool for excess fat, a sign that the pancreas is no longer making enough enzymes to process fat. You may be given a pancreatic function test to see how well the pancreas releases digestive enzymes. You may also be checked for diabetes.
