Lipomatosis( fatty dystrophy) is called a pathologically irreversible process in which normal pancreatic cells are replaced by fat tissue. These progressive changes lead to the fact that the body, in time, can not work as before.
Causes of Pancreatic Lipomatosis:
One of the main factors that provoke the development of the disease are chronic inflammatory processes in the pancreas, leading to damage and destruction of its cells. And since nature does not tolerate emptiness, these cells are gradually replaced by fat tissue.
The growth of fat cells triggers diseases related to metabolism, diabetes, chronic liver diseases( hepatitis), thyroid gland, pituitary gland. In the risk zone are patients with a disrupted hormonal background and excess weight.
The cause of the disease may be trauma or toxic damage to the body as a result of alcohol and medication abuse.
An hereditary factor may also play a role in the development of lipomatosis.
Signs and symptoms
The peculiarity of the disease is that the pancreatic lipomatosis can for a long time be asymptomatic. It is possible to detect pathological inclusions only with the help of ultrasound( ultrasound).In most cases, clinical manifestations of the disease are similar to those of digestive tract disorders. It can be:
- Severity in the abdomen after eating
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Lack of appetite, nausea or vomiting
- Pain under the "spoon" or under the ribs on the left
- Weakness, general ailments
The severity of the symptoms of lipomatosis, in many ways, depends on the number and sizefatty foci. If the fat tissue is replaced by a small part of the normal cells, then a person may not notice the manifestation of the disease throughout life.
In severe cases, when the functions of the pancreas are significantly reduced, serious digestive and carbohydrate metabolism disorders are noted, a serious weakening of immunity. Further progression of the disease leads to the death of healthy cells and the formation of large areas of adipose tissue, which eventually can degenerate into a malignant tumor.
Types of Pancreatic Lipomatosis
There are several stages of lipomatosis, depending on what percentage of the gland captures the fatty foci.
With pancreatic liposcopy 1 degree, pathological changes involve a third of the organ, ie 30% of cells are replaced by fat cells. Such changes are considered insignificant and signs of the disease usually do not manifest.
At the 2nd degree of lipomatosis, pathological changes occur in 30 to 60% of pancreatic cells. At this stage unpleasant symptoms begin to appear: heaviness, heartburn, belching, flatulence.
3rd degree. Adipose tissue replaces more than 60% of the body. All signs of digestive disorders are noted, signs of diabetes are attached to them( the blood sugar level rises).There are serious violations in the body, the remaining cells no longer produce hormones and enzymes, which can lead to an end to the production of insulin and malignant disease.
Diffuse pituitary lipidosis of the pancreas
In addition to the above, the nature and type of changes distinguish such stages of the development of the process as diffuse and fused( islet) lipomatosis of the pancreas. When the focal focal lipoma is localized, it is localized in one specific region. As a result of squeezing the lipoma of the ducts, serious digestive disorders can occur, which claim nausea, colic, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms. But it happens that the focus does not exert pressure on the parenchyma and blood vessels, in this case the disease falls under the 1 degree, when the visible signs are absent.
In case of diffuse lipomatosis, the fatty foci are rather small and scattered on the surface of the pancreas. They almost do not put pressure on pancreatic tissue and for a long time do not prevent it from performing its functions.
Pancreatic fibrolypomatosis
Often during an ultrasound examination, the doctor diagnoses in the conclusion a diagnosis of "fibrolipomatosis of the gland".This term means that in the tissues of the organ under investigation there are changes in both fatty and fibrous character. That is, the connective, fatty and scar tissue is found in the parenchyma and pathological destruction and replacement of healthy cells occurs. Fibrolipomatosis is most often a consequence of chronic pancreatitis.
Unlike the diffuse type of disease, fibrolipomatosis is considered a serious lesion, characterized by the proliferation of pancreatic tissues in the form of seals or nodules and the formation of a multitude of fibers on the parenchyma of this organ. This pathology is treated mainly surgically, sometimes in the future may need a course of radiation therapy.
The role of the liver in the violation of metabolic processes
Lipomatosis of the liver and pancreas are often interrelated. Since the development of the disease leads to a metabolic disorder, the excess deposition of fatty tissue can be observed in the liver. This body plays a significant role in fat metabolism, so the damage to its cells leads to changes in the functions and dystrophy of this organ. His diseases in many cases become a trigger mechanism in the development of fatty changes in the pancreas. One of the most common causes of increased intake of fatty acids in the body is the abuse of alcohol. Lipomatosis of the liver can manifest itself in general malaise, dull pain in the right hypochondrium, lack of appetite.
Treatment of pancreatic lipomatosis with drugs
Lipomatosis and fibrosis are treated conservatively and surgically. Complex treatment with drugs and a special diet is preferable for a diffuse type of disease, because in this case, small fat inclusions are scattered throughout the surface of the organ, do not squeeze the ducts and in most cases do not lead to serious disruption of the organ. If the fat cells merge into the lipoma, squeezing the ducts and causing serious changes in the pancreas - surgical intervention is necessary.
The course of drug therapy involves taking medications that normalize the digestive process( Mezim-forte, Festal) and drugs that make up the hormone deficiency( insulin).The main condition for effective therapy in this disease is treatment of concomitant diseases( hepatitis, thyroid pathologies, diabetes).
The patient is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, to abandon bad habits and to take strong drugs.
Diet in lipomatosis
A properly selected diet should contain the process of obesity and provide the body with food that will be easily digested and digested with digestive cycle. At the core of the diet are several mandatory rules:
- Refusal of fatty and fried foods
- Exclusion of the diet of sharp, salty, smoked foods.
- It is necessary to refuse sweets, flour and confectionery products, chocolate, alcohol, coffee.
- Food should be gentle, food is taken in small fractions, in small portions.
- Dishes should be stewed, boiled or steamed.
Patients are recommended to include porridge( buckwheat, oatmeal, rice), sour-milk products, lean meat and fish in a diet with lipomatosis. Vegetable dishes from a pumpkin, a potato, cabbage, zucchini are useful. You can drink non-carbonated mineral water, green tea, infusions from medicinal plants( mint, St. John's wort, blueberries).