There are a variety of disorders of the pancreas including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.

The inaccessibility of the pancreas makes evaluation of pancreatic diseases difficult. Various methods such as a physical examination, blood tests, CAT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, and MRI can be used, the last three being more accurate. Tests to evaluate the pancreatic ducts include ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography). Sometimes surgical exploration is the only way to confirm a patient’s diagnosis.