Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
There are two types of duodenal diverticula. The common
type which is present in at least 6% of individuals, is one that sticks out from
the duodenum, similar to the more common colonic diverticula. This is referred to as an "extramural"
diverticulum. Extramural diverticula may vary in size from a few millimeters to
a few centimeters. They usually are located in the area around the
Papilla of
Vater where the bile and pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum.
A second, rare type of diverticulum is referred to as an "intramural"
diverticulum. It does not protrude from the duodenum. Rather, it protrudes into
the duodenal lumen (the hollow inside of the duodenum through which digesting
food flows). Both types of diverticula, extramural and intramural, communicate
with the lumen of the duodenum so that contents of the duodenum can enter the
diverticulum.
What causes a duodenal diverticulum?
The cause of extramural diverticula is not definitely
known; however, they are believed to be acquired (not present from birth) due to a
herniation (protrusion)
of the duodenum through a defect in the muscle of the wall of the duodenum,
perhaps in an area where arteries pass through the intestinal muscle to nourish
the lining of the intestine.
Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause symptoms.
Diverticulitis is a condition in which diverticuli in the colon rupture. The rupture results in infection in the tissues that surround the colon. Diverticulitis symptoms include: abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Treatment methods include prescription medications, and in some cases, diverticulitis surgery.
Pancreatitis is a rare disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, occurring when digestive enzymes are activated and begin attacking the pancreas causing damage to the gland. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Most commonly caused by alcohol or gallstones, it can lead to bleeding in the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cysts. Enzymes and toxins may then enter the bloodstream and seriously injure organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidney.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
*Pancreatitis facts Medically Edited by:
Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that secretes
digestive enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract; it also synthesizes and
secretes insulin and
glucagon.
Pancreatitis may be caused by
gallstones (by blocking the pancreatic duct
outlet), chronic alcohol use, trauma, medications, infections, tumors, and
genetic abnormalities.
Acute pancreatitis with upper
abdominal pain that is often severe and
constant over several days, and may be accompanied by
fever,
nausea,
vomiting,
tachycardia, and abdominal swelling; severe cases can develop
dehydration,
low
blood pressure, shock, organ failure, and death.
Acute pancreatitis is diagnosed preliminarily by the patient's history,
physical exam and the levels of amylase and lipase in the blood (elevated in
pancreatitis patients); other t...
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