Secretin stimulation test is a test that measures the ability of
the pancreas to respond to secretin. Secretin is a hormone secreted
by the small intestines in the presence of partially digested food
from the stomach; this hormone normally stimulates the pancreas to
secrete a fluid with a high concentration of bicarbonate. This
fluid neutralizes the acidity from the stomach that is necessary
for a number of enzymes to function in the breakdown and absorption
of food. In order to perform the test a tube is passed through the
nose into the stomach then into the duodenum. Secretin is
administered and the contents of the duodenal secretions are
aspirated and analyzed over a period of about 2 hours. People with
diseases involving the pancreas (for example chronic pancreatitis,
cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer) may have abnormal pancreatic
function.
Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
