High lipase level
November 11, 2016 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
Hello, as part of a cancer screening examination, a comprehensive blood test was also conducted. It was found that my lipase level is at 249, with all other values being normal. Ultrasound showed nothing, and further blood analysis also showed nothing (no signs of inflammation, no abnormal tumor marker value (which was at 4, apparently normal up to 34) ... I also did not have any symptoms. Nevertheless, the thought of "pancreatic cancer" is lingering in my mind ... What could be the cause?
Hello and good day.
It is understandable that one would think of pancreatic cancer and rightly fear it. However, one swallow does not make a summer and a slightly elevated lipase value does not indicate pancreatic cancer. Since no other methods have found any further evidence of a tumor, one must consider a different cause of the elevated values, such as:
- inflammatory causes
- viral co-infection of the pancreas in the context of a viral infection
- possibly (although rarely) an elevated individual baseline.
Practical suggestion: monitor the value, i.e. re-determine it at 3-6 month intervals. If insurance does not cover it, pay for it yourself. It does not cost much and provides peace of mind. Except in the third case, the values should be lower or simply show fluctuations.
If, against expectations, they continue to rise steadily, a follow-up examination with other methods would also be advisable. Until then, keep calm. We are living, changing, biological systems, not technical machines that can all be calibrated to a standard value.
With best regards, Dr. R.C. Berg.
