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What Does My CT Scan Report Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 26 Aug 2016

Question: Mom is 91... One kidney. She has chronic diarrhea, mostly controlled with Immodium. On XXXXXXX 28 my mom had some pain and couldnt have a bowell movement. It was quite painfull so she wentnto the ER. They did a CT scan of abdomen and it showed an impaction . She did go about an hour after we got to ER. Incidentally the CT said ..."..pancreas: focal calcification in the pancreas tail may relate to prior bouts of acute pancreatitis . No mass lesion or ductal dilatation".... No doctor who read
this CT said that the pancreas calcification was an issue.... Mom is ok now... Still some diarrhea...should She press fir another test ? What does the pancreas language mean ??

Answered by Dr. Tayyab Malik (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
chronic pancreatitis is a cause of chronic (malabsorption ) diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
hi.
thanks for posting your query at HCM.

i read patient history and noticed CT findings.

Pancreas is an important organ that carries various function. One pf its function is to secrete digestive enzymes that aid in breakdown of food for better absorption function.

Calcification in any organ usually represents "chronic" problems. The patient might have developed pancreatitis previously which may have went un-noticed.
Chronic alcoholism and/or a history of Gall stones are common causes for chronic pancreatitis.

in chronic pancreatitis, pancreas can NOT synthesize the enzymes necessary for food digestion. therefore, food is not broken down properly and diarrhea results.

as per now, if patient still suffers from episodes of diarrhea and if fat content is visible in stool ( fat greasy stool- "steatorrhea"), then its a sign of malabsorption diarrhea.

patient may need to have a stool test and may be needing pancreatic enzymes if the stool test confirms malabsorption diarrhea.

if the diarrhea is NOT greasy, and no fat content , then COLONOSCOPY is recommended. Visit treating gastroenterologist.

hope to answer your concern.

further questions are welcomed.

regards
Dr Tayyab Malik

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Tayyab Malik (3 hours later)

Dr... She never has been a drinker. She has never been disgnosed with " pancreatitis." Her gastro doc nevern mentioned the pancreatic abnormality. Should i ask him about it???

Answered by Dr. Tayyab Malik (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Further evaluation and consultation is advised

Detailed Answer:
hi.
thanks for getting back to me.

yes, definitely i would recommend you to visit treating physician along with the CT scan reports. Chronic pancreatitis is a cause of chronic diarrhea too.
the cause maybe ruled out by carrying some blood tests and/or stool test.

Hope to answer your concern.
if no further questions, kindly close dialogue box and rate answer.

Wish you good and sound health.

Regards,
Dr Tayyab Malik

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar