Question 102

Question:

A 45 year-old man with a history of alcoholism develops pancreatitis. What pathologic changes would likely be seen in this patient’s pancreas?

Correct Answer: D.  Necrotic fat cells, calcium soap formation, and lipid-laden macrophages

Enzymatic fat necrosis is seen in pancreatitis, and is characterized histologically by necrotic fat cells, calcium soap formation, and lipid-laden macrophages. The two most frequent causes of pancreatitis are gall stones and alcohol.
Eosinophilic deposits in vascular walls is representative of fibrinoid necrosis. Granulomatous inflammation with some preservation of tissue architecture is representative of caseous necrosis. Liquefied necrotic tissue is representative of liquefactive necrosis. Tissue architecture well-preserved, with nuclear changes is representative of coagulative necrosis.