A 36yearold woman presents to the emergency department with

A 36-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with intense upper abdominal pain radiating to her back, weakness, loss of appetite, and severe indigestion after eating. She had not traveled in recent months. She has not been well for several days. What laboratory tests should be ordered to help diagnose this patient? What enzyme tests will be useful in diagnosing this patient? What two diagnoses are most likely for this patient?

Solution

1. An abdominal computed tomography helps to identify the abdominal disorder. Urinanalysis also helos to find urine infections or kidney stones. Blood test may help to evaluate. Ultrasound scan helps to identify gynecological disorders. Pancreatic function test can also be helpful to find out if pancreas is making the right amounts of digestive enzymes in in more advanced stages of the disease doctors may use blood urine and stool test to confirm the diagnosis.

2. Blood test showing high levels of pancreatic enzymes amylase and lipase usually indicate a diagnosis of pancreatitis elevated levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase ALP are very specific in identifying gallstone pancreatitis.

3. Imaging techniques or useful in confirming the diagnosis ultrasound is often used a computed tomography CT Scan along with laboratory tests can determine the severity of the disease doctors may also suggest other test like pancreatic function test glucose tolerance test to measure the activity of pancreas.