Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG104/1

Question

Diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis:- In people with suspected (or under investigation for) chronic pancreatitis, whose diagnosis has not been confirmed by the use of 'first-line' tests (for example, CT scan, ultrasound scan, upper gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy or combinations of these), what is the accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with or without secretin and endoscopic ultrasound to identify whether chronic pancreatitis is present?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- People with chronic pancreatitis usually present with chronic abdominal pain. However, there are many other causes of chronic abdominal pain (for example, peptic ulcer disease, gallstone disease, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysm). First-line tests to exclude these other causes include abdominal ultrasound, upper GI endoscopy and abdominal CT scan. Where the diagnosis has still not been confirmed following these first-line tests, it is important to have a
clinical algorithm of specialist tests to be able to identify people with chronic pancreatitis.
Appropriate management options can then be offered. A diagnostic cohort study is needed to determine the accuracy of MRCP with or without secretin and endoscopic ultrasound in diagnosing chronic pancreatitis.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Pancreatitis

Number

NG104

Date issued

September 2018

Other details