View source for Pancreatic Atrophy, Exocrine

[[Image:Pancreatic atrophy.jpg|right|thumb|100px|<small><center>Pancreatic atrophy (Image sourced from Bristol Biomed Image Archive with permission)</center></small>]]

*Degeneration of acinar cells ccurs as a sequel to
**Starvation - loss of zymogen granules
**Maldigestion
**Obstruction of the pancreatic ducts by
***Neoplasm
***Chronic inflammation and associated fibrosis
***Foreign bodies (parasites, pancreoliths
**Specific nutritional deficiencies include: essential amino acids, zinc, copper, selenium

===Clinical signs===
*By the time clinical signs of [[EPI|'''exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)''']] appear, the [[Pancreas - Anatomy & Physiology|pancreas]] is usually almost totally destroyed
*Chronic [[Diarrhoea|diarrhoea]] with steatorrhoea and undigested muscle fibres. Large quantities of pale faeces are passed (due to dilution of bile pigment and the presence of undigested fats). The faeces have a characteristic rancid or cheesy odour.
*Loss of condition despite marked increase in appetite
===Macroscopic appearance===
*The [[Pancreas - Anatomy & Physiology|pancreas]] is extremely thin and almost lace-like
*Primarily acinar tissue affected; the ducts and [[Pancreas - Anatomy & Physiology#Endocrine|Islets of Langerhans]] are relatively normal

===Microscopic appearance===
*In these cases the parenchyma is replaced by atypical parenchyma and adipose tissue
*Irregular, shrunken acini composed of cells with little cytoplasm
*Some cases show a few areas of apparently normal glandular tissue or foci of cellular infiltraton which have been interpreted as suggesting degenerative changes
===Aetiology===
*The underlying cause is not known, possibly due to nutritional imbalances
*Chronic pancreatitis is a rare cause of EPI
*Possible hereditary EPI in GSDs and rough coated collies
===Diagnosis===
*Low serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity is an early, preclinical diagnostic test for EPI

*[[Exocrine Pancreatic Atrophy in GSDs and Rough Coated Collies|Further Study]][[Category:Pancreas - Degenerative Pathology ]]
[[Category:Dog]]
[[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]