Hereditary pancreatitis physical examination

Patients with hereditary pancreatitis may assume a characteristic position in an attempt to relieve their abdominal pain such as lying on the left side, flexing the spine, drawing the knees up toward the chest. Patients with steatorrhea or advanced disease may present as loss of subcutaneous fat, temporal wasting and sunken supraclavicular fossa. Skin findings may include  jaundice, pallor and bruises.

• Patients with acute on chronic hereditary pancreatitis may assume a characteristic position in an attempt to relieve their abdominal pain:
  • Lying on the left side
  • 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

• Jaundice