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Jaundice

Jaundice

Bilirubin is the residual element in the blood after the hemoglobin is removed. Normally the liver removes this bilirubin from the blood and it passes out through the feces. When the body has too much bilirubin, the resulting condition is called jaundice. Excess bilirubin starts circulating within the body leading to yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes. Jaundice is caused either due to inflammation of the liver or due to an obstruction in the bile duct. Other possible causes of jaundice are pancreatic cancer and cirrhosis. A patient suffering from jaundice has pale stools, dark urine and nausea.

Jaundice is determined by measuring the level of bilirubin in the blood. ALT blood test or AST blood tests help in determining this. Ultrasonography or CT scan of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts can help in identifying the cause of jaundice.

CMP blood test

A CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) blood test is a set of specific tests that aid in providing a physician with vital information on the status of a patient's liver, kidneys, blood sugar, blood proteins and electrolyte balance. Often a CMP blood test is part of a yearly examination. The CMP blood test encompasses:

Bilirubin test

Glucose test

Calcium test

Albumin test

Total Protein test

Sodium test

Potassium test

CO2 test

Chloride test

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreas lies deep within the abdomen and secrete enzymes that are vital to digestion. Hormones secreted by the pancreas aid in maintaining sugar levels in the body. Pancreatic cancer is a condition where there is a malignant tumor, mostly found in the exocrine portion of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer is not easily detectable in the early stages. Besides, it spreads rapidly and can metastasize to other organs such as bile duct, duodenum (small intestine), spleen, colon, adrenal gland, kidney, or vertebra.

Typical symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and weight loss. The patient is likely to suffer from back pain and complain of tiredness and fatigue. Pancreatic cancer may result in blood clots and liver dysfunction. The abdominal pain associated with pancreatic cancer is likely to radiate to the upper and middle back. There may be yellowing of the skin since most persons suffering from cancer of the pancreas tend to develop jaundice. In advanced stages of pancreatic cancer, there is considerable accummulation of bile acids in the skin leading to severe itching.

Some peope have a heriditary genetic predisposition to cancer while there are certain factors that increase the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer.

High fat diet consisting largely of animal fat and lesser vegetables and fruits

Smoking

Obesity

Sedentary lifestyle

Blood test for serum bilirubin will show high bile pigment. Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal MRI aids in diagnosing the extent of tumor in the pancreas. ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancretography) is a procedure that allows a physician to observe the common bile duct and pancreatic ducts. A pancreatic biopsy can help understand the kind of tumor in the pancreas. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) involves surgical removal of the pancreatic tumor. This surgical procedure is conducted on patients whose tumors are located in the head of the pancreas or regions adjacent to it. Surgery may involve remove a section or the entire pancreas. A combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is given to those patients whose tumor is not removed.