American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones, which can obstruct the pancreatic duct as they pass through the biliary tract. When a gallstone blocks the pancreatic duct, it prevents digestive enzymes from being released into the small intestine, causing these enzymes to activate prematurely within the pancreas itself. This leads to inflammation and damage to pancreatic tissue, which characterizes acute pancreatitis.

While alcohol abuse is a significant and common cause of acute pancreatitis and is frequently observed in clinical settings, the overall incidence rates indicate that gallstones are a more prevalent trigger, especially in general populations. Other factors such as elevated triglycerides and certain medications can also contribute to acute pancreatitis but occur less frequently compared to gallstones. Thus, among the common etiologies of acute pancreatitis, gallstones stand out as the leading cause.