Pancreatic Diseases Program

Pancreatic diseases and related disorders are on the rise in the Middle East. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Pancreatic Diseases Program offers multidisciplinary treatments that put Patients First. Our treatments incorporate the latest research to ease symptoms and improve quality of life for patients diagnosed with pancreatic disease.

What We Treat

As part of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute, the Pancreatic Diseases Program is made up of a multidisciplinary team of physicians and specialists dedicated to providing high quality care to patients.

The most common pancreatic diseases include:

• Acute and chronic pancreatitis: A condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, activating digestive enzymes that begin to attack the pancreas and damage its tissue. This can sometimes lead to bleeding in the pancreas. The condition can be either acute (also known as sudden onset) or chronic (also known as recurring or long lasting).
• Pancreatic cysts: Closed sacs that contain fluid located in the pancreas.
• Pancreatic cancer: Cancer of the pancreas that can be benign (noncancerous) or, in more serious cases, malignant (cancerous).

Diagnosis of Pancreatic Disease

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s multidisciplinary team at the Pancreatic Diseases Program offers patients a wide range of diagnostic techniques and treatments to suit their specific needs. Following an initial consultation, the patient and doctor will discuss treatment options together.

The testing methods used to diagnose patients will depend on their symptoms, but could include a range of blood tests or imaging studies. Other tests include:

• Pancreatic function test: A blood test that measures the degree of inflammation of the pancreas. In addition, a stool test can be ordered to measure the digestive function of the pancreas
• Fasting glucose: A blood test that determines the amount of glucose in the blood to detect either prediabetes or diabetes.
• Ultrasound: An imaging test that uses sound waves to produce images of the internal organs.
• CT scan: An imaging test used to diagnose cancer and pancreatitis.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): A test that combines endoscopy and fluoroscopy techniques. During the procedure, a thin tube with a camera attached to the end is inserted through the mouth, past the stomach, and into the duodenum. A dye is then released into this area (pancreatic duct or the biliary duct) to make it possible to visually identify affected areas.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with ultrasound (EUS): A test that involves inserting a thin tube with an ultrasound probe attached to the end through the mouth and down into the stomach. This device produces ultrasound images of the organs of the biliary and pancreatic system.

Treatment of Pancreatic Disease

Following examination, testing, and discussion with the physician, each patient will be prescribed a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to their specific diagnosis. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi make every effort to treat patients conservatively in order to avoid surgery, when possible.