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Avatar universal

Abdominal/Back pain and Radiology question

Back in August and September, I was having persistent pain and discomfort in my right abdomen and my right lower/mid back and love handle area right below the rig cage.  It seemed to move between those areas through the day and lasted for weeks.  I went to the doctor and my blood tests were normal as well as an abdominal ultrasound.  It eventually stopped for a few months but now has been back for the last three months and pretty much every day now.  The pain is not  extremely intense but is very noticeable and at times strong.  My labs were normal for the most part except for elevated alkaline phosphatase and an ultrasound this time showed slight calcium deposits in the tail of the pancreas but did not show up on an abdominal xray.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Also, how would they know they are calcium deposits from an ultrasound and not something else? The next step may be a CT scan but the idea of that really worries me.  Does anyone know why an abdominal MRI can't be used instead of the CT in the case of abdominal back pain?  Thanks!    
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your response! Yeah I was wondering about pancreatitis.  I am a 25 year old male so I don't know how likely pancrititis or cancer would be?  I am wondering how they can declare they are calcium deposits just from an ultrasound and not a little tumor or something, and why they did not show up on the xray? which calcium deposits normally would.

The doctor did not seem that concerned about it.  The pain in my right back and side has been pretty intense at times lately.  But I would like to avoid a CT until absolutely necessary.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your response! Yeah I was wondering about pancreatitis.  I am a 25 year old male so I don't know how likely pancrititis or cancer would be?  I am wondering how they can declare they are calcium deposits just from an ultrasound and not a little tumor or something, and why they did not show up on the xray? which calcium deposits normally would.

The doctor did not seem that concerned about it.  The pain in my right back and side has been pretty intense at times lately.  But I would like to avoid a CT until absolutely necessary.  
Helpful - 0
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
A MRI would be more beneficial if a spinal cause for the abdominal pain is suspected. Since calcification of pancreas is to be investigated further, it can be better done by a CT scan. Various causes of pancreatic calcification include chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, primary pancreatic tumor (ductal adenocarcinoma), Islet cell tumors, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous or macrocystic cystadenomas or cystadenocarcinomas, serous cystadenomas, and metastasis from other cancers. The list is daunting and naturally you will be tense reading this. However in all probability if you drink alcohol, the calcification is due to that and stopping alcohol intake will control pancreatitis.
It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
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