Diagnosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) is based on the Revised Atlanta Classification[1] (Table 1) requiring at least two of three criteria: i) typical epigastric pain radiating to the back, ii) serum lipase (or the less specific amylase) levels elevated at least three times their upper limit of normal and/or iii) characteristic imaging findings. Other causes of elevated lipase should be considered in unclear cases (Table 2) [2–4]. Imaging in the emergency room (ER) is only necessary to confirm AP in atypical presentation, in case of doubt or when other life-threatening conditions must be excluded.
