CINXE.COM
Diagnosis of Pancreatitis - NIDDK
<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <title>Diagnosis of Pancreatitis - NIDDK</title> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="7FEF9D64C9916EC9393EB5B21BD0037E"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <link rel="icon" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/images/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.google-analytics.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://www.googletagmanager.com"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://dap.digitalgov.gov"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://livechat.niddk.nih.gov"> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/merriweather-v30-latin-regular.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/open-sans-v29-latin-regular.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/open-sans-v29-latin-600.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/open-sans-v29-latin-700.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/montserrat-v24-latin-regular.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="font" type="font/woff2" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/fonts/dki.woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" as="fetch" href="/_internal/livechat/livechatstatus?id=66d68177-6338-4eb3-b628-350cc624e7de" id="_lcstatuslink" crossorigin> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/slick-carousel/slick.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/jquery-scrolltabs/scrolltabs.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/magnific-popup/magnific-popup.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/tablesaw/tablesaw.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/niddk-web.css"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/styles/niddk-nojs.css"></noscript> <link href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis" rel="canonical" /> <meta name="description" content="Discusses how doctors diagnose pancreatitis using lab tests and imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, or MRCP." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Pancreatitis, pancreatitis diagnosis, imaging test, lab test, stool test, MRCP, CT scan, ultrasound, endoscopic ultrasound, pancreatic function test." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis"> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Diagnosis of Pancreatitis - NIDDK" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Discusses how doctors diagnose pancreatitis using lab tests and imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, or MRCP." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/-/media/Images/Components/Default-Social-Media-Images/Health-Information-Card-ALT3.png" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" /> <meta name="twitter:site:id" content="1901405066" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Diagnosis of Pancreatitis - NIDDK" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Discusses how doctors diagnose pancreatitis using lab tests and imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, or MRCP." /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/-/media/Images/Components/Default-Social-Media-Images/Health-Information-Card-ALT3.png" /> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push({"pageURL":"https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis","pagePath":"/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis","pageTitle":"Diagnosis of Pancreatitis","pageDiseaseArea":"Digestive Diseases","pageLanguage":"English","lastReviewedDate":"2017-11-01"}); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Diagnosis of Pancreatitis", "description": "Discusses how doctors diagnose pancreatitis using lab tests and imaging tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, or MRCP.", "url": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis", "datePublished": "2022-07-25 21:38:43 -04:00", "dateModified": "2022-07-25 21:38:43 -04:00", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "NIDDK - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/-/media/Images/Components/common/site-logo-full.svg" } } } </script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MBRL4D');</script></head> <body itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalWebPage" class="page-lang-en"> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MBRL4D" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden" name="Google Tag Manager" title="Google Tag Manager"></iframe></noscript> <div class="site-wrap"> <header class="site-header"> <a href="#main" class="skip-link">Skip to main content</a> <div class="site-alerts"> </div> <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government"> <div class="usa-accordion grid"> <div class="usa-banner__header"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="usa-banner__inner-flag"> <img class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAALCAMAAABBPP0LAAAAG1BMVEUdM7EeNLIeM7HgQCDaPh/bPh/bPx/////bPyBEby41AAAAUElEQVQI123MNw4CABDEwD3jC/9/MQ1BQrgeOSkIqYe2o2FZtthXgQLgbHVMZdlsfUQFQnHtjP1+8BUhBDKOqtmfot6ojqPzR7TjdU+f6vkED+IDPhTBcMAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=" alt="U.S. flag"> </div> <div class="usa-banner__inner-text"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action" aria-hidden="true">Here’s how you know</p> </div> <button type="button" class="usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner" hidden> <div class="usa-banner__guidance"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" width="64" height="64" viewBox="0 0 64 64"><title>Official government website icon</title><path fill="#2378C3" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M32 0c17.673 0 32 14.327 32 32 0 17.673-14.327 32-32 32C14.327 64 0 49.673 0 32 0 14.327 14.327 0 32 0zm0 1.208C14.994 1.208 1.208 14.994 1.208 32S14.994 62.792 32 62.792 62.792 49.006 62.792 32 49.006 1.208 32 1.208zm10.59 38.858a.857.857 0 0 1 .882.822v1.642H18.886v-1.642a.857.857 0 0 1 .882-.822H42.59zM25.443 27.774v9.829h1.642v-9.83h3.273v9.83H32v-9.83h3.272v9.83h1.643v-9.83h3.272v9.83h.76a.857.857 0 0 1 .882.821v.821h-21.3v-.809a.857.857 0 0 1 .88-.82h.762v-9.842h3.272zm5.736-8.188l12.293 4.915v1.642h-1.63a.857.857 0 0 1-.882.822H21.41a.857.857 0 0 1-.882-.822h-1.642v-1.642l12.293-4.915z" /></svg> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong> <br> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" width="64" height="64" viewBox="0 0 64 64"><title>icon-https</title><path fill="#719F2A" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M32 0c17.673 0 32 14.327 32 32 0 17.673-14.327 32-32 32C14.327 64 0 49.673 0 32 0 14.327 14.327 0 32 0zm0 1.208C14.994 1.208 1.208 14.994 1.208 32S14.994 62.792 32 62.792 62.792 49.006 62.792 32 49.006 1.208 32 1.208zm0 18.886a7.245 7.245 0 0 1 7.245 7.245v3.103h.52c.86 0 1.557.698 1.557 1.558v9.322c0 .86-.697 1.558-1.557 1.558h-15.53c-.86 0-1.557-.697-1.557-1.558V32c0-.86.697-1.558 1.557-1.558h.52V27.34A7.245 7.245 0 0 1 32 20.094zm0 3.103a4.142 4.142 0 0 0-4.142 4.142v3.103h8.284V27.34A4.142 4.142 0 0 0 32 23.197z" /></svg> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong> <br> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewbox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description">Locked padlock icon</desc> <path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z" /> </svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="stripe-brand"> <div class="dk-brand-wrap"> <div class="dk-site-logos"> <a href="/" title="NIDDK home page"> <img src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/images/site-logos.svg#full" width="300" height="67" class="desktop" alt="NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases" /> <img src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/images/site-logos.svg#abbrev" width="150" height="34" class="mobile" alt="NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases" /> </a> <a href="/about-niddk/75th-anniversary" title="NIDDK 75th Anniversary"> <img src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/images/site-logos.svg#full75" width="63" height="67" class="desktop" alt="75 years: 1950-2025" /> <img src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/images/site-logos.svg#abbrev75" width="35" height="30" class="mobile" alt="75 years: 1950-2025" /> </a> </div> <div class="dk-site-mobile-toolbar"> <button type="button" class="mobile-site-search"><i class="i-search"></i>Search</button> <button type="button" class="dk-nav-menu"><i class="i-menu"></i>Menu</button> </div> <form class="dk-site-search" id="site-search" action="/search" method="GET" aria-label="Site search"> <button type="button" class="close-mobile-site-search" aria-label="Close search"><i class="i-times"></i></button> <div class="site-search-info">Search for Information from NIDDK</div> <button type="button" class="ss-options" title="Change search scope" aria-label="Select scope" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="site-search-opts"> <i class="i-angle-down" aria-hidden="true"></i> </button> <ul id="site-search-opts" role="menu" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="Scope options"> <li role="menuitemradio" aria-checked="true" data-value="all">Entire Site</li> <li role="menuitemradio" aria-checked="false" data-value="research">Research & Funding</li> <li role="menuitemradio" aria-checked="false" data-value="health-info">Health Information</li> <li role="menuitemradio" aria-checked="false" data-value="news">News</li> <li role="menuitemradio" aria-checked="false" data-value="about">About NIDDK</li> </ul> <input type="hidden" name="s" value="all" /> <input type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Entire Site…" aria-label="Site search terms" /> <button type="submit" class="ss-go" title="Search Entire Site">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> <nav class="dk-site-nav sticky" aria-label="Site"> <div class="grid" role="presentation"> <div class="sn-bar" role="list" aria-owns="dk_sn0 dk_sn1 dk_sn2 dk_sn3 dk_sn4"> <div id="dk_sn0" class="sn-home" role="listitem"> <div class="sn-section-title"> <a href="/" class="dk-logo">Home</a> </div> </div> <div class="sn-sections-wrap" role="presentation"> <div class="sn-sections" role="presentation"> <div id="dk_sn1" class="sn-section" role="listitem"> <input id="dk_snexpand1" type="checkbox" class="sn-chk-expand"/> <div class="sn-section-title"> <a href="/research-funding"><span>Research & Funding</span></a> <label for="dk_snexpand1" class="sn-lbl-expand">Expand Research & Funding</label> </div> <div class="sn-subsections" role="list"> <div class="sn-collapsible"> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/current-opportunities">Current Funding Opportunities</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/research-programs">Research Programs & Contacts</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/human-subjects-research">Human Subjects Research</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/process">Funding Process</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/training-career-development">Research Training & Career Development</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/funded-grants-grant-history">Funded Grants & Grant History</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/research-resources">Research Resources</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/at-niddk">Research at NIDDK</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/research-funding/technology-advancement-transfer">Technology Advancement & Transfer</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/meetings-workshops">Meetings & Workshops</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="dk_sn2" class="sn-section current" role="listitem"> <input id="dk_snexpand2" type="checkbox" class="sn-chk-expand"/> <div class="sn-section-title"> <a href="/health-information"><span>Health Information</span></a> <label for="dk_snexpand2" class="sn-lbl-expand">Expand Health Information</label> </div> <div class="sn-subsections" role="list"> <div class="sn-collapsible"> <div role="group" class="sn-subgroup" aria-labelledby="dk_snsg0"> <div id="dk_snsg0" class="sn-subgroup-title" role="presentation">Health Topics</div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/diabetes">Diabetes</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases">Digestive Diseases</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/kidney-disease">Kidney Disease</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/weight-management">Weight Management</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/liver-disease">Liver Disease</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/urologic-diseases">Urologic Diseases</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/endocrine-diseases">Endocrine Diseases</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/diet-nutrition">Diet & Nutrition</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/blood-diseases">Blood Diseases</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/diagnostic-tests">Diagnostic Tests</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/informacion-de-la-salud">La información de la salud en español</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/health-statistics">Health Statistics</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/healthy-moments">Healthy Moments Radio Broadcast</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/clinical-trials">Clinical Trials</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/professionals">For Health Professionals</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice">Diabetes Discoveries & Practice Blog</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/health-information/community-health-outreach">Community Health & Outreach</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="dk_sn3" class="sn-section" role="listitem"> <input id="dk_snexpand3" type="checkbox" class="sn-chk-expand"/> <div class="sn-section-title"> <a href="/news"><span>News</span></a> <label for="dk_snexpand3" class="sn-lbl-expand">Expand News</label> </div> <div class="sn-subsections" role="list"> <div class="sn-collapsible"> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/archive">News Archive</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/for-reporters">For Reporters</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/meetings-workshops">Meetings & Workshops</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/media-library">Media Library</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/news/follow-us">Follow Us</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="dk_sn4" class="sn-section" role="listitem"> <input id="dk_snexpand4" type="checkbox" class="sn-chk-expand"/> <div class="sn-section-title"> <a href="/about-niddk"><span>About NIDDK</span></a> <label for="dk_snexpand4" class="sn-lbl-expand">Expand About NIDDK</label> </div> <div class="sn-subsections" role="list"> <div class="sn-collapsible"> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/meet-director">Meet the Director</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/offices-divisions">Offices & Divisions</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/staff-directory">Staff Directory</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/budget-legislative-information">Budget & Legislative Information</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/advisory-coordinating-committees">Advisory & Coordinating Committees</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/strategic-plans-reports">Strategic Plans & Reports</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/research-areas">Research Areas</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/faqs">FAQs</a></div> </div> <div role="presentation"> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/jobs">Jobs at NIDDK</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/visit-us">Visit Us</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/contact-us">Contact Us</a></div> <div role="listitem"><a href="/about-niddk/75th-anniversary">NIDDK 75th Anniversary</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="balloon"></div> </header> <main id="main"> <div class="grid dk-two-column"> <div class="dk-breadcrumb-row"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Health Information", "item": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Digestive Diseases", "item": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pancreatitis", "item": "https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "name": "Diagnosis" } ] } </script> <div class="dk-breadcrumbs"> <ol> <li> <a href="/"><span>Home</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/health-information"><span>Health Information</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases"><span>Digestive Diseases</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis"><span>Pancreatitis</span></a> </li> <li> <span>Diagnosis</span> </li> </ol> </div> <button type="button" class="context-menu-button">Related Topics</button> <div class="dk-language-dropdown"> <button type="button" name="options" title="Show alternate languages for this page" aria-label="Alternate languages" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="language-picker-opts"> <span class="language">English</span> </button> <ul id="language-picker-opts" role="menu" aria-hidden="true"> <li role="menuitem" class="current"><a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis">English</a></li> <li role="menuitem"><a href="/health-information/informacion-de-la-salud/enfermedades-digestivas/pancreatitis/diagnostico">Español</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="dk-main-container"> <nav class="dk-leftnav" aria-label="Section navigation"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis" aria-description="Parent page">Pancreatitis</a> <ul> <li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/definition-facts">Definition & Facts</a> </li> <li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes">Symptoms & Causes</a> </li> <li class="ln-current"> <span>Diagnosis</span> </li> <li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/treatment">Treatment</a> </li> <li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/eating-diet-nutrition">Eating, Diet, & Nutrition</a> </li> <li class="ln-collapsed"> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/clinical-trials">Clinical Trials</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="dk-content"> <h1 itemprop="name">Diagnosis of Pancreatitis</h1> <div class="health-detail-content"> <h2>How do doctors diagnose pancreatitis?</h2> <p>To diagnose pancreatitis and find its causes, doctors use</p> <ul> <li>your medical history</li> <li>a physical exam</li> <li>lab and imaging tests</li> </ul> <p>A health care professional will ask</p> <ul> <li>about <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes">your symptoms</a></li> <li>if you have a history of <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/definition-facts#who">health conditions or concerns</a> that make you more likely to get pancreatitis—including medicines you are taking</li> <li>if you have a personal or family medical history of pancreatitis or <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones">gallstones</a></li> </ul> <p>During a physical exam, the health care professional will</p> <ul> <li>examine your body</li> <li>check your abdomen for pain, swelling, or tenderness</li> </ul> <figure class="small center"> <img src="/-/media/Images/Health-Information/Digestive-Diseases/TalkingToDoctor_330x220.jpg" alt="A health care professional speaking to a patient and his wife in a hospital setting."> <figcaption>A health care professional will ask you about your symptoms, and your health history—including medicines you are taking.</figcaption> </figure> <h2>What tests do health care professionals use to diagnose pancreatitis?</h2> <p>Health care professionals may use lab or imaging tests to diagnose pancreatitis and find its causes. Diagnosing chronic pancreatitis can be hard in the early stages. Your doctor will also test for other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/peptic-ulcers-stomach-ulcers">peptic ulcers</a> or <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/pancreatic">pancreatic cancer</a>.</p> <h3>Lab tests</h3> <p>Lab tests to help diagnose pancreatitis include the following:</p> <p><strong>Blood tests.</strong> A health care professional may take a blood sample from you and send the sample to a lab to test for</p> <ul> <li>high amylase and lipase levels—digestive <a href="/Dictionary/E/enzyme" class="dictionary-term">enzymes</a> made in your <a href="/Dictionary/P/pancreas" class="dictionary-term">pancreas</a></li> <li>high <a href="/Dictionary/B/blood-glucose" class="dictionary-term">blood glucose</a>, also called blood sugar</li> <li>high levels of blood fats, called lipids</li> <li>signs of infection or <a href="/Dictionary/I/inflammation" class="dictionary-term">inflammation</a> of the <a href="/Dictionary/B/bile-ducts" class="dictionary-term">bile ducts</a>, pancreas, <a href="/Dictionary/G/gallbladder" class="dictionary-term">gallbladder</a>, or <a href="/Dictionary/L/liver" class="dictionary-term">liver</a></li> <li>pancreatic cancer</li> </ul> <p><strong>Stool tests.</strong> Your doctor may test a stool sample to find out if a person has fat <a href="/Dictionary/M/malabsorption" class="dictionary-term">malabsorption</a>.</p> <h3>Imaging tests</h3> <p>Health care professionals also use <a href="/Dictionary/I/imaging" class="dictionary-term">imaging</a> tests to diagnose pancreatitis. A technician performs most tests in an outpatient center, a hospital, or a doctor’s office. You don’t need <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/anesthesia.html">anesthesia</a>, a medicine to keep you calm, for most of these tests.</p> <p><strong>Ultrasound.</strong> Ultrasound uses a device called a transducer, which bounces safe, painless sound waves off your organs to create a picture of their structure. Ultrasound can find gallstones.</p> <p><strong>Computed tomography (CT) scan.</strong> CT scans create pictures of your pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts. CT scans can show pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.</p> <p><strong>Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).</strong> MRCP uses a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, which creates pictures of your organs and soft tissues without x-rays. Your doctor or a specialist may use MRCP to look at your pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts for causes of pancreatitis.</p> <figure class="small center"> <img src="/-/media/Images/Health-Information/Digestive-Diseases/MRI_330x210.jpg" alt="A health care professional speaking to a patient before he enters a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine."> <figcaption>Health care professionals use MRCP to look at your pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts for causes of pancreatitis.</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Endoscopic ultrasound (<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007646.htm">EUS</a>).</strong> Your doctor inserts an <a href="/Dictionary/E/endoscope" class="dictionary-term">endoscope</a>—a thin, flexible tube—down your throat, through your <a href="/Dictionary/S/stomach" class="dictionary-term">stomach</a>, and into your <a href="/Dictionary/S/small-intestine" class="dictionary-term">small intestine</a>. The doctor turns on an ultrasound attachment to create pictures of your pancreas and bile ducts. Your doctor may send you to a <a href="/Dictionary/G/gastroenterologist" class="dictionary-term">gastroenterologist</a> to perform this test.</p> <p><strong>Pancreatic Function Test (PFT).</strong> Your doctor may use this test to measure how your pancreas responds to secretin, a <a href="/Dictionary/H/hormone" class="dictionary-term">hormone</a> made by the small intestine. This test is done only at some centers in the United States.</p> </div> <div class="dk-review-date">Last Reviewed November 2017</div> <div id="082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" class="dk-share"> <span>Share<span class="sr-only"> this page</span></span> <div class="dk-share-buttons" data-lang="en"> <button type="button" class="shr-print" title="Print this page" onclick="window.print();return false;">Print</button> <a class="shr-facebook no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Facebook" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Facebook</a> <a class="shr-x no-disclaimer" title="Post this page on X" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">X</a> <a class="shr-email" title="Email this page" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_self" rel="nofollow noopener">Email</a> <button type="button" class="shr-more" title="More sharing options" aria-expanded="false">More Options</button> <a class="shr-whatsapp no-disclaimer" title="Share this page via WhatsApp" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_self" rel="nofollow noopener">WhatsApp</a> <a class="shr-linkedin no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on LinkedIn" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">LinkedIn</a> <a class="shr-reddit no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Reddit" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Reddit</a> <a class="shr-pinterest no-disclaimer" title="Share this page on Pinterest" href="#share-082355b0ff9b4364a8a1a28f386783d8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pinterest</a> <button type="button" class="shr-copy" title="Copy a link for sharing to the clipboard">Copy Link</button> </div> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/scripts/modules/social-share.js" type="module"></script> </div> <div class="previous-next " > <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes"> <div> <em>Previous:</em> Symptoms & Causes </div> </a> <a href="/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/treatment"> <div> <em>Next:</em> Treatment </div> </a> </div> <div class="disclaimer"> <p> This content is provided as a service of the <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases</a> (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.<br /> </p> <p> <p>The NIDDK would like to thank:<br> Christopher E. Forsmark, M.D., University of Florida College of Medicine</p> </p> <p> </p> </div> </article> </div> </div> </main> <footer id="main-footer" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/GovernmentOrganization" itemid="https://www.niddk.nih.gov"> <meta itemprop="name" content="National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases"> <meta itemprop="alternateName" content="NIDDK"> <link itemprop="url" href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov"> <link itemprop="logo" href="/images/site-logo.png"> <link itemprop="sameAs" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Diabetes_and_Digestive_and_Kidney_Diseases"> <span itemprop="address" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/PostalAddress"> <meta itemprop="name" content="NIDDK, NIH"> <meta itemprop="streetAddress" content="31 Center Drive, MSC 2560"> <meta itemprop="addressLocality" content="Bethesda"> <meta itemprop="addressRegion" content="MD"> <meta itemprop="addressCountry" content="US"> <meta itemprop="postalCode" content="20892-2560"> </span> <section id="contact"> <div class="grid"> <h2>Contact Us</h2> <div class="contact-flex v2"> <address itemprop="department" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/GovernmentOffice"> <meta itemprop="name" content="The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health Information Center" /> <link itemprop="url" href="/health-information" /> <link itemprop="image" href="/images/site-logo.png" /> <meta itemprop="telephone" content="+1-800-860-8747" /> <meta itemprop="openingHours" content="Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00" /> <meta itemprop="address" content="9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States" /> <div class="contact-time"> <i class="i-clock-o"></i> <span> <strong>Hours:</strong> <time datetime="08:30">8:30 a.m.</time> to <time datetime="17:00">5 p.m.</time> ET, Monday - Friday</span> </div> <a class="contact-email" href="mailto:healthinfo@niddk.nih.gov"> <i class="i-envelope-o"></i> <span> <strong>Email:</strong> <span class="lnk" itemprop="email">healthinfo@niddk.nih.gov</span></span> </a> <a class="contact-mobile" href="tel:1-800-860-8747" itemprop="contactPoint" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ContactPoint"> <i class="i-mobile"></i> <span> <strong>Phone:</strong> <span class="lnk" itemprop="telephone"><span class="hide">+</span>1-800-860-8747</span> <meta itemprop="contactType" content="customer service" /> <meta itemprop="contactOption" content="TollFree" /> </span> </a> <a class="contact-tty" href="tel:711" itemprop="contactPoint" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ContactPoint"> <i class="i-tty"></i> <span> <strong>TTY:</strong> <span class="lnk" itemprop="telephone"><span class="hide">+</span>711</span> <meta itemprop="contactType" content="customer service" /> <meta itemprop="contactOption" content="HearingImpairedSupported" /> <meta itemprop="contactOption" content="TollFree" /> </span> </a> <div class="print-social"> <svg viewbox="0 0 600 100" fill="currentcolor"> <path d="M550,9.01c13.35,0,14.93.05,20.2.29,4.87.22,7.52,1.04,9.28,1.72,2.33.91,4,1.99,5.75,3.74,1.75,1.75,2.83,3.42,3.74,5.75.68,1.76,1.5,4.41,1.72,9.28.24,5.27.29,6.85.29,20.2s-.05,14.93-.29,20.2c-.22,4.87-1.04,7.52-1.72,9.28-.91,2.33-1.99,4-3.74,5.75-1.75,1.75-3.42,2.83-5.75,3.74-1.76.68-4.41,1.5-9.28,1.72-5.27.24-6.85.29-20.2.29s-14.93-.05-20.2-.29c-4.87-.22-7.52-1.04-9.28-1.72-2.33-.91-4-1.99-5.75-3.74-1.75-1.75-2.83-3.42-3.74-5.75-.68-1.76-1.5-4.41-1.72-9.28-.24-5.27-.29-6.85-.29-20.2s.05-14.93.29-20.2c.22-4.87,1.04-7.52,1.72-9.28.91-2.33,1.99-4,3.74-5.75,1.75-1.75,3.42-2.83,5.75-3.74,1.76-.68,4.41-1.5,9.28-1.72,5.27-.24,6.85-.29,20.2-.29h0ZM550,0c-13.58,0-15.28.06-20.62.3-5.32.24-8.96,1.09-12.14,2.32-3.29,1.28-6.08,2.99-8.86,5.77-2.78,2.78-4.49,5.57-5.77,8.85-1.24,3.18-2.08,6.82-2.32,12.14-.24,5.33-.3,7.04-.3,20.62s.06,15.28.3,20.62c.24,5.32,1.09,8.96,2.32,12.14,1.28,3.29,2.99,6.08,5.77,8.86,2.78,2.78,5.57,4.49,8.86,5.77,3.18,1.24,6.82,2.08,12.14,2.32,5.33.24,7.04.3,20.62.3s15.28-.06,20.62-.3c5.32-.24,8.96-1.09,12.14-2.32,3.29-1.28,6.08-2.99,8.86-5.77,2.78-2.78,4.49-5.57,5.77-8.86,1.24-3.18,2.08-6.82,2.32-12.14.24-5.33.3-7.04.3-20.62s-.06-15.28-.3-20.62c-.24-5.32-1.09-8.96-2.32-12.14-1.28-3.29-2.99-6.08-5.77-8.86-2.78-2.78-5.57-4.49-8.86-5.77-3.18-1.24-6.82-2.08-12.14-2.32C565.28.06,563.58,0,550,0h0ZM550,24.32c-14.18,0-25.67,11.5-25.67,25.67s11.49,25.67,25.67,25.67,25.67-11.49,25.67-25.67-11.49-25.67-25.67-25.67ZM550,66.66c-9.21,0-16.67-7.46-16.67-16.67s7.46-16.67,16.67-16.67,16.67,7.46,16.67,16.67-7.46,16.67-16.67,16.67ZM582.69,23.31c0,3.31-2.69,6-6,6s-6-2.69-6-6,2.69-6,6-6,6,2.69,6,6Z"></path> <path d="M485.16,15.65c-1.61-6.13-6.45-10.97-12.58-12.66-11.05-2.98-55.4-2.98-55.4-2.98,0,0-44.35,0-55.48,2.98-6.13,1.61-10.89,6.45-12.58,12.66-2.9,11.13-2.9,34.36-2.9,34.36,0,0,0,23.23,2.98,34.35,1.61,6.13,6.45,10.97,12.58,12.66,11.05,2.98,55.4,2.98,55.4,2.98,0,0,44.35,0,55.48-2.98,6.13-1.61,10.89-6.45,12.58-12.66,2.9-11.13,2.9-34.35,2.9-34.35,0,0,0-23.23-2.98-34.35ZM402.66,71.13V28.87l37.1,21.13-37.1,21.13h0Z"></path> <path d="M334.34,3v94c0,1.66-1.34,3-3,3h-27.99v-38.74h12.96l1.95-15.1h-14.91v-9.64c0-4.36,1.17-7.29,7.49-7.29l7.94-.07v-13.48c-1.37-.2-6.12-.59-11.59-.59-11.52,0-19.47,7.03-19.47,19.92v11.13h-13.02v15.1h13.02v38.74h-50.39c-1.66,0-3-1.34-3-3V3c0-1.66,1.34-3,3-3h94c1.66,0,3,1.34,3,3Z"></path> <path d="M198.99,0h16.96l-37.07,42.36,43.61,57.64h-34.15l-26.73-34.97-30.6,34.97h-16.96l39.63-45.31L111.86,0h35l24.18,31.96L198.99,0ZM193.02,89.86h9.4L141.75,9.63h-10.09l61.36,80.23Z"></path> <path d="M15.43,83.72h15.04v-45.18h-15.04v45.18ZM31.45,24.61c-.07-4.43-3.26-7.81-8.4-7.81s-8.53,3.39-8.53,7.81,3.26,7.81,8.33,7.81h.07c5.27,0,8.53-3.52,8.53-7.81h0ZM69.53,83.72h15.04v-25.91c0-13.87-7.42-20.31-17.32-20.31-8.07,0-11.65,4.49-13.61,7.62h.13v-6.58h-15.04s.2,4.23,0,45.18h15.04v-25.26c0-1.3.07-2.67.46-3.65,1.11-2.67,3.58-5.47,7.75-5.47,5.4,0,7.55,4.1,7.55,10.22v24.15h0ZM100,18.75v62.5c0,10.35-8.4,18.75-18.75,18.75H18.75c-10.35,0-18.75-8.4-18.75-18.75V18.75C0,8.4,8.4,0,18.75,0h62.5c10.35,0,18.75,8.4,18.75,18.75Z"></path> </svg> <span>@NIDDKgov</span> </div> </address> <div class="live-chat"> <h3>Chat</h3> <div class="footer-live-chat"> <niddk-chatbadge lang="en"></niddk-chatbadge> <div> Live Chat Available<br /> 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET<br /> Monday - Friday </div> </div> </div> <div class="follow-us"> <h3> <a href="/news/follow-us">Follow Us</a> </h3> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-of-diabetes-and-digestive-and-kidney-diseases-niddk" class="linkedin" title="Follow NIDDK on LinkedIn" itemprop="sameAs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a> <a href="https://x.com/NIDDKgov" class="x-social" title="Follow NIDDK on X" itemprop="sameAs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">X</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NIDDKgov" class="facebook" title="Like NIDDK on Facebook" itemprop="sameAs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NIDDKgov" class="youtube" title="Subscribe to NIDDK on YouTube" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/niddkgov" class="instagram" title="Follow NIDDK on Instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> </div> </div> </div> </section><p class="grid tagline">NIH… Turning Discovery Into Health ®</p> <div class="sub-footer"> <div class="grid"> <div role="region" aria-label="Policy links"> <ul class="horizontal-links"> <li><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/freedom-information-act">Freedom of Information Act</a></li> <li><a href="/accessibility">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="/disclaimers">Disclaimers</a></li> <li><a href="/copyright">Copyright</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html">Vulnerability Disclosure Policy</a></li> </ul> </div> <div role="region" aria-label="Utility links"> <ul class="horizontal-links"> <li><a href="/site-map">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="https://intranet.niddk.nih.gov/SitePages/Home.aspx" rel="nofollow">For Staff Only</a></li> <li><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIDDK/subscriber/new">Get Email Updates</a></li> </ul> </div> <div role="region" aria-label="Related government sites"> <ul class="horizontal-links"> <li> <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/"> <span>U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</span> </a> </li> <li itemprop="memberOf" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/GovernmentOrganization"> <a href="https://www.nih.gov/" itemprop="url"> <span itemprop="name">National Institutes of Health</span> </a> <meta itemprop="alternateName" content="NIH" /> </li> </ul> </div> <niddk-chatcontrol href-on="/System/start-chat" src-en="/chatbeacon/NIDDK/1/scripts/chatbeacon.js?accountId=1&siteId=1&queueId=1&m=0&i=1&b=1&c=1&theme=frame" src-es="/chatbeacon/NIDDK/1/scripts/chatbeacon.js?accountId=1&siteId=1&queueId=4&m=0&i=1&b=1&c=1&theme=frame" statuslinkid="_lcstatuslink"></niddk-chatcontrol> </div> </div> <iframe src="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/pancreatitis/diagnosis?tracking=true" style="height:0;width:0;visibility:hidden;display:none;" aria-hidden="true"></iframe> <iframe style="height:0;width:0;visibility:hidden;display:none;" src="about:blank" aria-hidden="true"></iframe> </footer> <div class="page-mask"></div> </div> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/jquery.min.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/slick-carousel/slick.min.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/jquery-scrolltabs/jquery.scrolltabs.min.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/magnific-popup/jquery.magnific-popup.min.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/deps/tablesaw/tablesaw.jquery.min.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/scripts/niddk-main.js" defer></script> <script src="/_ux/niddk/9.35.0/scripts/modules/live-chat.js" type="module"></script> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/-/media/Images/Components/Default-Social-Media-Images/Health-Information-Card-ALT3.png" /> <meta itemprop="lastReviewed" content="2017-11-01T08:00:00.0000000Z-05:00" /> <span itemprop="inLanguage" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Language"> <meta itemprop="name" content="English" /> <meta itemprop="alternateName" content="en-US" /> </span> </body> </html>