Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1056 page)

   Use

   Investigating pancreatic disorders, usually pancreatitis

   More specific for pancreatitis than is for serum amylase; diagnosis of peritonitis, strangulated or infarcted bowel, pancreatic cyst

   Interpretation

Increased In

   Acute pancreatitis

   Perforated or penetrating peptic ulcer, especially with involvement of the pancreas

   Obstruction of pancreatic duct by

   Stone

   Drug-induced spasm of sphincter of Oddi (e.g., codeine, morphine, meperidine, methacholine, cholinergics) to levels 2–15 times normal

   Partial obstruction plus drug stimulation

   Chronic pancreatitis

   Acute cholecystitis

   Small bowel obstruction

   Intestinal infarction