Which of the following is a non-pancreatic condition that can cause elevated amylase levels?

Mumps is accurate as a non-pancreatic condition that can lead to elevated amylase levels. This viral infection primarily affects the salivary glands, particularly the parotid glands. When the salivary glands are inflamed due to mumps, they can produce amylase, which then enters the bloodstream, resulting in increased levels of this enzyme.

Understanding this phenomenon emphasizes why mumps is significant in this context. The rise in amylase typically associated with mumps results from the secretion of the enzyme from affected salivary glands rather than from pancreatic issues. This contrasts with other conditions where elevated amylase is more directly related to pancreatic pathology.

In cases like appendicitis, cirrhosis, and cholecystitis, while elevated amylase may occur, it is not directly due to the specific malfunction of salivary glands or as a primary consequence of inflammation unrelated to the pancreas. These conditions can involve secondary rises in amylase but are not recognized as direct causes of elevated levels in the same way as mumps is.