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Q: Recently, I saw a patient who had an elevated serum lipase level, but the serum amylase level was normal and the clinical picture for pancreatitis was equivocal. My understanding has been that lipase elevation is specific for pancreatitis. Are there other conditions that can cause an increase in serum lipase level?
Internist, Texas
A: A raised serum lipase level--especially when accompanied by an elevated serum amylase level--is diagnostic of...