NOVEL APPROACHES TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD

The diagnosis of pancreatic disease is difficult. Most tests of pancre atic function need to be interpreted in the context of the patient's p resenting history and clinical examination. In childhood, classical si gns of hemorrhagic pancreatitis are seldom useful because they rarely occur. A careful history is particularly useful in conditions with an autosomal dominant inheritance such as hereditary pancreatitis. Pedigr ee construction should be under taken in all cases of pancreatitis. As sessment of exocrine pancreatic function is made easier by a thorough appreciation of the constellation of signs, both pancreatic and extrap ancreatic, of various pancreatic disease. The purpose of this review i s to explore novel means of diagnosing pancreatic disease, including p ancreatic function testing, organ imaging and, more recently, molecula r biology techniques. Most of the potentially novel techniques surroun d organ imaging or molecular biology.