PANCREATALGIA Meaning and
Definition
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Pancreatalgia is a medical term that refers to the occurrence of pain in the pancreas. The pancreas is a glandular organ located in the abdomen, behind the stomach. It plays a crucial role in the digestive system by producing enzymes important for breaking down food and regulating blood sugar levels through the secretion of insulin and glucagon.
Pancreatalgia typically presents as a persistent or recurring abdominal pain that may be mild to severe in intensity. The pain caused by this condition can be dull, achy, or sharp, and may radiate to the back or other areas of the abdomen. It can also be accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and changes in bowel movements.
The causes of pancreatalgia can vary and are often related to underlying pancreatic conditions or disorders. These may include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), pancreatic cancer, gallstones, pancreatic duct obstruction, or trauma to the pancreas. In rare cases, pancreatalgia can also be caused by functional disorders without any apparent structural abnormalities.
Diagnosis of pancreatalgia typically involves a thorough evaluation of the patient's medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests such as blood tests, imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound, CT scan), and sometimes endoscopic procedures (e.g., endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP).
Treatment options for pancreatalgia depend on the underlying cause and severity of the pain. They may include pain management techniques, lifestyle modifications, medications to alleviate inflammation and pain, as well as treatment of the underlying pancreatic disorder if present. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to alleviate the pain and correct any structural abnormalities of the pancreas.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PANCREATALGIA
- pancreatalgya
- pancreatalgaa
- pancreatalgma
- pancreatalgha
- pancreatalgii
- pancreatalgie
- pancreatalgic
- pa ncreatalgia
- pan creatalgia
- panc reatalgia
- pancr eatalgia
- pancre atalgia
- pancrea talgia
- pancreat algia
- pancreata lgia
- pancreatal gia
- pancreatalg ia
- pancreatalgi a
Etymology of PANCREATALGIA
The word "pancreatalgia" is a medical term that refers to pain in the pancreas.
The etymology of "pancreatalgia" can be broken down as follows:
1. Pancreas: The term "pancreas" comes from the Greek word "pankreas", meaning "sweetbread". This is a combination of "pan", meaning "all", and "kreas", meaning "flesh".
2. -algia: The suffix "-algia" is derived from the Greek word "algos", meaning "pain" or "suffering". It is commonly used in medical terminology to indicate pain in a specific organ or part of the body.
Therefore, "pancreatalgia" combines the Greek word for pancreas, "pankreas", with the suffix "-algia" to describe pain in the pancreas.
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