Recent Advances in Acute Pancreatitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Over recent decades, the management of acute pancreatitis has undergone substantial changes. Historically, treatment focused primarily on supportive care and open surgical interventions for complications such as pancreatic necrosis. However, improvements in imaging modalities, endoscopic techniques, and critical care have significantly transformed the therapeutic landscape.

The development of minimally invasive approaches, including endoscopic and percutaneous drainage and step-up strategies, has reduced the need for open surgery and improved patient outcomes. In parallel, advances in molecular research and biomarker discovery have enhanced our understanding of disease mechanisms and risk prediction.

Nevertheless, several aspects of acute pancreatitis management remain controversial, including early diagnostic strategies, the optimal timing of interventions, the role of the microbiota, and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into clinical practice.

This Special Issue will provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of emerging concepts and innovations in acute pancreatitis. It will bring together multidisciplinary research that improves our understanding of the disease and contributes to more effective diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue will focus on novel diagnostic tools, minimally invasive therapeutic approaches, molecular mechanisms, and technological innovations to enhance clinical decision-making and patient outcomes. 

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Molecular mechanisms and biomarkers in acute pancreatitis;
• Advances in imaging techniques for early diagnosis and disease monitoring;
• Endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches in the management of pancreatic complications;
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning for severity prediction and clinical decision support;
• Role of the gut microbiota and microbiome modulation in pancreatitis;
• Risk stratification models and predictive scores;
• Management of pancreatic necrosis and infected collections;
• Prevention and treatment of recurrent pancreatitis;
• Long-term outcomes and complications of acute pancreatitis;
• Multidisciplinary and personalized approaches to patient management.

For this Special Issue, we welcome submissions including the following:

• Original research articles;
• Clinical studies and observational studies;
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
• Narrative reviews on emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies;
• Translational research related to the molecular mechanisms behind pancreatitis;
• Studies exploring innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence or advanced imaging.

Multidisciplinary contributions from surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, intensivists, and researchers in translational medicine are strongly encouraged. 

Dr. Manuela Mastronardi
Dr. Alan Biloslavo
Dr. Antonio La Greca
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• acute pancreatitis
• minimally invasive management
• biomarkers
• artificial intelligence