Pancreatic Disorders

Once considered uncommon, pancreatic diseases are increasingly recognized in the pediatric age group. Acute pancreatitis, acute recurrent pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis occur in children with an incidence approaching that of adults. Risk factors are broad, prompting the need for a completely different diagnostic and therapeutic approach in children. Although cystic fibrosis remains the most common cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, other causes such as chronic pancreatitis may be as common as Shwachman Diamond syndrome. Long-term effects of pancreatic diseases may be staggering, as children suffer from significant disease burden, high economic cost, nutritional deficiencies, pancreatogenic diabetes, and potentially pancreatic cancer.