Does an elevated lipase level indicate pancreatic cancer?

The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is not made on the basis of blood values, but by means of imaging procedures and possibly with a tissue sample. It is possible that the cancer is accompanied by an inflammation of the pancreas, in which case the lipase level may also be elevated. Patients with chronic pancreatitis with acute flare-ups can also show increased lipase levels, as described above. These patients have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Therapy

Just increasing the lipase level does not require any treatment. Only as soon as a clinical picture underlies the increase, the disease needs to be treated. Acute pancreatitis is treated as an inpatient, intensive care unit.As a rule, one treats conservatively with painkillers, volume administration, dietary restrictions and possibly an antibiotic if there is a suspicion of tissue loss.

Surgery is only necessary in severe cases. If the reason for the inflammation is gallstones, which obstruct the bile and pancreas ducts, they must be removed. For this purpose, an ERCP, an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, is used.

Since lipase is produced in the pancreas, an elevated level is often associated with a pancreatic problem. In this case, the aim is to minimize the burden on the pancreas. In the case of an acute inflammation, the patient is usually hospitalized, firstly on a dietary leave (short-term abstinence from food) and then on a gentle dietary regimen.

In the case of chronic inflammation, one should eat a low-fat diet to avoid overloading the pancreas. Fibre-rich food should also be eaten with caution. It is important to distribute the food in small portions throughout the day. Most important, however, is to avoid alcohol completely.

Course of disease

The course of the disease depends on the cause of the increased lipase level. In the case of acute pancreatitis, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the disease, as it is strongly related to the possible complications. It is certain that the course of the disease can be influenced favourably by visiting a hospital early on and by intensive medical monitoring. In this way, possible complications can be detected and treated more quickly.