Pancreatic Lipomatosis - Symptoms, Causes, Types And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Pancreatic lipomatosis

Content:

• What is lipomatosis?
• Lipomatosis symptoms
• Causes of lipomatosis
• The degree of development of lipomatosis
• Lipomatosis treatment
• Diet for lipomatosis

What is pancreatic lipomatosis?

Pancreatic lipomatosis is a progressive pathology, during which the cells of the pancreas are replaced by fat cells that are unable to perform the function assigned to them. This disease has another name - steatosis (or dystrophy).

Lipomatosis symptoms

Quite often, the disease goes away without symptoms, feeling which the patient could go to the hospital. Symptoms do not appear when fat cells are located throughout the pancreas in small islets. The severity of symptoms depends on the number and size of fatty inclusions. For this reason, at the initial stage, the disease proceeds without any signs. Gradually, adipose tissue begins to increase, and this leads to the appearance of the first manifestations of the disease. Due to the proliferation of the lipomatous focus in the gland, structural disorders occur that prevent the necessary enzymes from entering the intestine.

A person suffering from pancreatic lipomatosis feels symptoms characteristic of a digestive disorder:

• Discomfort and heaviness in the abdomen after eating.
• Pain in the hypochondrium.
• Constipation or diarrhea.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Malaise and general decrease in performance.

Causes of lipomatosis

Lipomatosis provokes destructive changes that occur in the pancreas. Due to the growth of adipose tissue, metabolism is disturbed. There is an assumption that heredity may be responsible for the onset of the disease.

The risk of the onset of the disease is significantly increased due to hormonal imbalance, in the presence of complex chronic diseases, overweight.

Among the reasons that provoke the growth of adipose tissue in place of healthy cells, it is worth highlighting the following:

• Inflammatory processes of the pancreas.
• Injuries.
• Diabetes.
• Toxic damage to the organ resulting from smoking abuse and inappropriate intake of drugs.

Degrees of development of pancreatic lipomatosis

Physicians-clinicians identify several theories of dividing the degrees of lipomatosis. If we take the degree of spread of pathology as a criterion, then the disease is divided into three degrees:

I degree. At this stage, the disease is asymptomatic. The work of the gland is compensated, and the pathological process covers no more than 30% of the organ.

II degree. The degree of gland lesion covers from 30 to 60%. The first symptoms appear in the form of a violation of the digestive process.

III degree. The lesion focus covers more than 60% of the organ, disrupting its work. As a result, the glandular cells cannot produce the necessary enzymes and hormones. It also stops the production of insulin. It is the uncontrolled glucose level that is the main cause of complications in lipomatosis.

There is another opinion of doctors, on the basis of which two stages of lipomatosis are distinguished:

• Diffuse, or small focal.
• Islet, in which large island spots appear.

Diagnosis of the disease

If symptoms of digestive disorders appear, an urgent need to consult a doctor. Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis.

Diagnosis of pancreatic lipomatosis is diagnosed only by ultrasound examination. The pictures show the normal size of the organ with increased echogenicity of its structure. It is this fact that testifies to the emergence of a pathological process of the pancreas.

A biopsy is done to make a definitive diagnosis. If abnormal fat cells are found, the specialist will prescribe the required treatment.

Treatment of pancreatic lipomatosis

Most often, pancreatic lipomatosis is treated with conservative methods. It implies the following:

• Revision and correction of the daily diet.
• Fight overweight.
• Getting rid of bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol.
• Leading a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, additional therapy is prescribed, which is aimed at normalizing digestion and restoring hormonal deficiency.

Conservative treatment also includes the treatment of concomitant diseases (if any), such as:

• Hepatitis.
• Thyroid disease.
• Selection of therapy for diabetes mellitus.

If conservative treatment does not have the expected effect, the areas of lipomatosis are surgically removed.

Find out more: The most effective recipes for restoring the pancreas!

Diet for lipomatosis of the pancreas

Since the changes that occur with lipomatosis are irreversible, it is necessary to focus on its therapy. Of prime importance is diet, which helps prevent the proliferation of fat cells. Doctors pay special attention to her. The basis of such a diet is fractional nutrition. You need to eat in small portions, 5-6 times a day. It is recommended to steam food without adding vegetable oil. You will need to exclude fatty, fried foods, sweets, spicy foods, smoked meats, alcohol from the diet.

It is necessary to eat lean meats and fish, dairy products, vegetables, a variety of cereals, including buckwheat, rice and oats. The daily energy requirement should not exceed 2800 calories.

Find out more: What is possible, what is good and what is bad for the pancreas?

It should be noted that lipomatosis is a serious disease that requires qualified treatment. At the appearance of the slightest symptoms of the disease, you should consult a doctor. Only in this case can you prevent the spread of the disease and the occurrence of complications. If you do not receive timely help, the disease will take on a very serious form, the treatment of which will require surgical intervention.

In no case should you self-medicate and try to adjust your diet on your own. Only a specialist can prescribe competent treatment and diet.

The author of the article: Gorshenina Elena Ivanovna | Gastroenterologist

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Russian State Medical University named after N. I. Pirogova (2005). Postgraduate studies in the specialty "Gastroenterology" - educational and scientific medical center.