Autoimmune pancreatitis physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Iqra Qamar M.D.[2]

Patients with acute on chronic autoimmune pancreatitis may assume a characteristic position in an attempt to relieve their abdominal pain. Patients with steatorrhea or advanced disease may present with loss of subcutaneous fat, temporal wasting, sunken supraclavicular fossa, and other physical signs of malnutrition.

Patients with acute on chronic autoimmune pancreatitis may assume a characteristic position in an attempt to relieve their abdominal pain:

• Lying on the left sid
• Flexing the spine
• Drawing the knees up toward the chest

Patients with steatorrhea or advanced disease may present with:

• Loss of subcutaneous fat
• Temporal wasting
• Sunken supraclavicular fossa
• Other physical signs of malnutrition

• Vital signs usually within normal limits

• Jaundice^[1][2][3][4]

• Jugular venous distension absent
• Carotid bruits absent
• Lymphadenopathy not present
• No Thyromegaly / thyroid nodules
• Hepatojugular reflux absent

• Vesicular breath sounds
• Wheezing absent
• Egophony absent
• Bronchophony absent
• Normal tactile fremitus

• S1 normal and soft
• S2 normal
• No murmurs

• Abdominal tenderness may be noticed in the epigastrium or left upper quadrant
• A palpable abdominal mass in the epigastrium or left upper quadrant

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