Symptoms & Signs
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Flushing or redness of the face
- Nausea
- Watery diarrhea (often massive amounts)
- Weight loss
Diagnosis & Tests
Signs may include:
- Dehydration
- High volume of diarrhea (even without eating)
- Low stomach acid (achlorhydria)
- Low blood potassium (hypokalemia), which can cause leg cramps
Tests include:
- CT scan
- MRI
- Stool examination for cause of diarrhea and electrolyte levels
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the blood
Pictures & Images
Pancreas
The pancreas is an elongated, tapered gland that is located behind the stomach and secretes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.
Review Date : 9/4/2008
Reviewed By : Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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