Pancreatic and non-pancreatic causes of hyperamylasemia

Elevated serum amylase levels are typically associated with acute and chronic pancreatitis, but pancreatitis is not the only cause of hyperamylasemia. Pancreatic imaging may not reveal any changes. A wide range of repeated diagnostic and therapeutic measures are used to lower amylase levels, but this is not always successful, and amylase levels do not return to normal. A patient may have no clinical symptoms of acute or chronic pancreatitis and may not require treatment, yet still undergo multiple laboratory and imaging studies and repeated treatment courses. This article discusses the possible causes of hyperamylasemia, which may be caused not only by pancreatic diseases but also by diseases of other organs and systems.