Chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is the progressive and permanent destruction of the pancreas resulting in exocrine and endocrine insufficiency and, often, chronic disabling pain. The etiology is multifactorial. Alcoholism plays a significant role in adults, whereas genetic and structural defects predominate in children. The average age at diagnosis is 35 to 55 years. Morbidity and mortality are secondary to chronic pain and complications (e.g., diabetes, pancreatic cancer). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the radiographic test of choice for diagnosis, with ductal calcifications being pathognomonic. Newer modalities, such as endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, provide diagnostic results similar to those of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Management begins with lifestyle modifications (e.g., cessation of alcohol and tobacco use) and dietary changes followed by analgesics and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. Before proceeding with endoscopic or surgical interventions, physicians and patients should weigh the risks and benefits of each procedure. Therapeutic endoscopy is indicated for symptomatic or complicated pseudocyst, biliary obstruction, and decompression of pancreatic duct. Surgical procedures include decompression for large duct disease (pancreatic duct dilatation of 7 mm or more) and resection for small duct disease. Lateral pancreaticojejunostomy is the most commonly performed surgery in patients with large duct disease. Pancreatoduodenectomy is indicated for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic head enlargement. Patients with chronic pancreatitis are at increased risk of pancreatic neoplasm; regular surveillance is sometimes advocated, but formal guidelines and evidence of clinical benefit are lacking.     

Surgical treatment of pancreatitis: review of a series.

In this review of the surgical experience with pancreatitis, 55 patients had acute relapsing pancreatitis associated with gallstones and 47 had chronic pancreatitis of alcoholic, idiopathic, or familial causation. The severity of pancreatitis associated with gallstones could not be correlated with results of preoperative biochemical tests; only one-third of patients were found to have stones within the biliary ductal system; and postoperative mortality (5%) could not be correlated with the severity of pancreatic inflammation or the timing of surgical intervention. Postoperative observations have revealed that all but four of the patients have remained asymptomatic. With regard to the patients with alcoholic, idiopathic, or familial disease who had significant pancreatic ductal dilatation or obstruction, ductal drainage procedures with or without resection benefited 80%. In the absence of ductal dilatation or obstruction, major resective surgery benefited 50% of patients. Continuing alcohol abuse limited the effectiveness of any operative procedure, and diabetes occurred more often after major resective procedures.     

Fully covered self-expanding metal stents for refractory pancreatic duct strictures in chronic pancreatitis

Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FC-SEMSs), which can be removed from the bile duct, have recently been used in the main pancreatic duct (MPD) in chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of FC-SEMSs in painful chronic pancreatitis with refractory pancreatic strictures. The primary endpoints were technical success and procedure-related morbidity. Secondary endpoints were pain relief at the end of follow-up and resolution of the dominant pancreatic stricture at endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. Over 5 months, 10 patients with painful chronic pancreatitis and refractory dominant pancreatic duct strictures were treated with FC-SEMSs. All FC-SEMSs were successfully released and removed, although two stents were embedded in the MPD at their distal end and treated endoscopically without complications. Mild abdominal pain was noted in three patients after stent release. During treatment, pain relief was achieved in nine patients, but one continued to take morphine, because of addiction. Cholestasis developed in two patients and was treated endoscopically; no patient developed acute pancreatitis or pancreatic sepsis. After stent removal, the diameter of the narrowest MPD stricture had increased significantly from 3.5 mm to 5.8 mm. Patients were followed up for a mean of 19.8 months: two patients who continued drinking alcohol presented with mild acute pancreatitis; one patient developed further chronic pancreatic pain; and one had a transient pain episode. At the end of the study, nine patients no longer had chronic pain and no patients had required surgery. Endoscopic treatment of refractory MPD stricture in chronic pancreatitis by placement of an FC-SEMS appears feasible, safe, and potentially effective.     

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Previous studies have shown that endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) sensitively detects morphologic abnormalities due to chronic pancreatitis. However, morphologic EUS findings have limited specificity, particularly at the early stages of chronic pancreatitis. Our aims were to study pancreatic morphology and inflammation in patients with chronic pancreatitis, using EUS and fine-needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNA), and to compare the results with those of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and pancreatic function tests. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 37 patients (48 +/- 13 years) with clinical symptoms and laboratory test findings suggestive of chronic pancreatitis were prospectively studied. Patients with malignancy or major concomitant disorders were excluded. Clinical evaluation included indirect pancreatic function tests. Morphologic criteria for chronic pancreatitis included echo-intense septae/echo-reduced foci (i. e. pseudolobularity), ductal irregularities, and calcifications. EUS-FNA was performed in 27/37 patients, by means of the Hitachi FG34-UX echo endoscope and a 22-gauge needle, and tissue specimens were submitted for standard cytological evaluation. ERCP served as reference in all patients, using the Cambridge classification. RESULTS: 31 patients had chronic pancreatitis while six had normal findings at ERCP. EUS showed morphologic abnormalities of the pancreas in 33 patients. Morphologic abnormalities alone reached a sensitivity of 97 % for chronic pancreatitis with a specificity of only 60 %, while the positive predictive value (PPV) was 94 %, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 75 %. EUS-FNA increased the negative predictive value to 100 % and the specificity to 67 %. On average, 2.3 needle passes were necessary to obtain sufficient amounts of tissue. The correlation of EUS findings with pancreatic function tests was poor. EUS results were in agreement with regard to the severity of chronic pancreatitis in 5/8 patients with grade I disease, in 11/13 patients with grade II, and in 10/10 patients with grade III disease. Minor complications occurred in two patients (7 %). CONCLUSIONS: EUS is as sensitive and effective as ERCP in the detection of chronic pancreatitis, particularly when only mild disease is present. However, EUS findings have limited specificity, particularly in patients with mild disease. EUS-FNA with cytology is safe and improves the negative predictive value. Negative EUS-FNA findings rule out chronic pancreatitis, but cytological investigation alone does not improve the specificity of EUS findings, suggesting that further improvements in tissue sampling and analysis are necessary to support routine use of FNA in patients with chronic pancreatitis.     

Endosonographic features in patients with non-alcoholic early chronic pancreatitis improved with treatment at one year follow up

Since the prevention of early chronic pancreatitis (ECP) into chronic pancreatitis might be critical for the reduction of pancreatic cancer, we tried to clarify the pathophysiology of ECP patients, focusing on ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. 27 ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis and 33 patients with functional dyspepsia with pancreatic enzyme abnormalities (FD-P) were enrolled in this study. Diagnosis of ECP was made when imaging findings showed the presence of more than 2 out of 7 endoscopic ultrasound features. Duodenal degranulated eosinophils and glucagon-like peptide 1 producing cells were estimated by immunostaining. There were no significant differences in characteristics and psychogenic factors between ECP and FD-P patients. Interestingly, endoscopic ultrasound score in ECP patients significantly improved, albeit clinical symptoms in ECP patients showed no improvement at one year follow up. The extent of migration of duodenal degranulated eosinophils in FD-P patients was significantly higher compared to that in ECP patients. The levels of elastase-1 and trypsin in ECP patients with improved endoscopic ultrasound features were significantly reduced by the treatment. Further studies will be needed to clarify whether clinical symptoms and endoscopic ultrasound features in ECP patients without alcoholic chronic pancreatitis were improved in longer follow up study.     

Detection of pancreatic pathology by ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Retrospective evaluation of the results of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and pancreatic ultrasonography in identifying those patients with a normal pancreas and those with a pancreatic abnormality revealed ultrasonography to have an overall accuracy of approximately 73%, whereas ERCP had an 85% accuracy, and both modalities had a combined accuracy of 92%. Both procedures were most accurate in the identification of patients with no disease, and both were least accurate in the identification of patients with chronic pancreatitis.     

Long-term outcome after pancreatic stenting in severe chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Although it has been proved that pancreatic stenting is effective in the symptomatic management of severe chronic pancreatitis, long-term outcomes after stent removal have not been fully evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients (75 men, 25 women; median age 49) with severe chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic duct strictures were successfully treated for pancreatic pain using polyethylene pancreatic stents and were followed up for at least 1 year after stent removal. The stents were exchanged "on demand" (in cases of recurrence of pain) and a definitive stent removal was attempted on the basis of clinical and endoscopic findings. Clinical variables were retrospectively assessed as potential predictors of re-stenting. RESULTS: The etiology of the chronic pancreatitis was alcoholic (77 %), idiopathic (18 %), or hereditary (5 %). Patients were followed up for a median period of 69 months (range 14 - 163 months) after study entry, including a median period of 27 months (range 12 - 126 months) after stent removal. The median duration of pancreatic stenting before stent removal was 23 months (range 2 - 134 months). After attempted definitive stent removal, 30 patients (30 %) required re-stenting within the first year of follow-up, at a median time of 5.5 months after stent removal (range 1 - 12 months), while in 70 patients (70 %) pain control remained adequate during that period. By the end of the follow-up period a total of 38 patients had required re-stenting and four ultimately underwent pancreaticojejunostomy. Pancreas divisum was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of re-stenting (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The majority (70 %) of patients with severe chronic pancreatitis who respond to pancreatic stenting maintain this response after definitive stent removal. However, a significantly higher re-stenting rate was observed in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreas divisum.     

Floating pancreatic duct concrements in chronic pancreatitis. Pain relief by endoscopic removal

This report describes 3 patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis, floating pancreatic duct concrements between 4 and 6 mm in diameter, moderate to advanced ductal changes, and repeated severe attacks of pain during acute relapses over a period of several months. Immediate relief of pain was achieved in all 3 patients by endoscopic papillotomy aimed at widening the main pancreatic duct and subsequent extraction or spontaneous passage of pancreatic duct concrements. On the basis of our experience with the patients presented here, endoscopic papillotomy widening the main pancreatic duct may be useful in some patients with chronic pancreatitis and floating pancreatic duct concrements.     

Hemorrhagic pancreatic pseudocyst: A rare complication

Pancreatic pseudocysts are seen both in acute and chronic pancreatitis. Prevalence of pancreatic pseudocyst in chronic pancreatitis is 20% to 40% and is most commonly seen in alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Intracystic hemorrhage from a pseudoaneurysm is a rare and potentially a lethal complication of pancreatic pseudocyst with an incidence of less than 10%. We herein present a case of a 42-year-old male with a past medical history of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, stable pseudocyst in the tail of pancreas, alcohol abuse and seizures who presented with abdominal pain and acute anemia had this rare complication of hemorrhagic pseudocyst. The diagnostic modalities used to diagnose hemorrhagic pseudocyst are ultrasound with color doppler, CT with contrast, digital subtraction angiography and angiography. Angiographic embolization of the culprit artery is the preferred treatment of choice in the treatment of pseudoaneurysms. It is important for early recognition and treatment of this complication as the mortality can be as high as 40%.     

Pancreatic pseudocyst,pancreatitis, and incomplete pancreas divisum in a child treated with endotherapy: a case report

Pancreatic divisum (PD) is caused by the lack of fusion of the pancreatic duct during the embryonic period. Considering the incidence rate of PD, clinicians lack an understanding of the disease, which is usually asymptomatic. Some patients with PD may experience recurrent pancreatitis and progress to chronic pancreatitis. Recently, a 13-year-old boy presented with pancreatic pseudocyst, recurrent pancreatitis, and incomplete PD, and we report this patient’s clinical data regarding the diagnosis, medical imagining, and treatment. The patient had a history of recurrent pancreatitis and abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was chosen for diagnosis of PD, pancreatitis, and pancreatic pseudocyst, followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, minor papillotomy, pancreatic pseudocyst drainage, and stent implantation. In the follow-up, the pseudocyst lesions were completely resolved, and no recurrent pancreatitis has been observed.     

Endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocyst: a long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: No studies with real long-term follow-up after endoscopic drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts are available. The present study was undertaken to investigate the long-term outcome of endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocyst with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 38 consecutive patients with pancreatic pseudocyst underwent endoscopic cystogastrostomy (n = 27), endoscopic cystoduodenostomy (n = 6) and transpapillary drainage (n = 5). Patients were monitored at 1 and 3 months after drainage, and finally between 24 and 80 months. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done at 1 and 3 months after drainage while ultrasound was done at 3 months and at the end of follow-up. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was only done before cyst drainage if no cyst bulge was visible in the stomach or duodenum or if obstructive jaundice was present. RESULTS: Biliary pancreatitis was responsible for the pseudocyst in 19 cases while the remaining occurrences were caused by alcohol (n = 12) and trauma (n = 7). All forms of endoscopic drainage were effective in treating pancreatic pseudocyst and there was complete disappearance of the cyst within 3 months of drainage, irrespective of cause. Over a mean follow-up of 44.23 months (24 - 80 months). Three patients had symptomatic recurrences while three had asymptomatic recurrences; all had alcohol-induced pancreatitis. No recurrences were seen in the biliary pancreatitis and trauma group. All symptomatic recurrences were successfully managed with endoscopic cystogastrostomy and stenting. A massive bleed in one patient required surgery while stent block and cyst infection in three patients and perforation in one patient were managed conservatively. ERCP was done before cyst drainage in eight patients because there was no visible bulge into the stomach or duodenum (n = 5), or because obstructive jaundice was present (n = 3). In five patients ERCP revealed cyst duct communication. All these patients were managed by transpapillary drainage and there was only one asymptomatic recurrence in this group. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic management of pancreatic pseudocyst is quite an effective and safe mode of treatment in experienced hands. ERCP before the procedure is only required when the cyst does not bulge into gut lumen, for a decision about the feasibility of transpancreatic drainage. On long-term follow-up, recurrences were seen only in the alcoholic pancreatitis group. In the biliary pancreatitis group, no recurrences were seen after cholecystectomy and removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones if present. No recurrences were seen in the trauma group.     

Chronic pancreatic pain successfully treated by endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreaticogastrostomy using fully covered self-expandable metallic stent

One of the most common symptoms presenting in patients with chronic pancreatitis is pancreatic-type pain. Obstruction of the main pancreatic duct in chronic pancreatitis can be treated by a multitude of therapeutic approaches, ranging from pharmacologic, endoscopic and radiologic treatments to surgical interventions. When the conservative treatment approaches fail to resolve symptomatic cases, however, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography with pancreatic duct drainage is the preferred second approach, despite its well-recognized drawbacks. When the conventional transpapillary approach fails to achieve the necessary drainage, the patients may benefit from application of the less invasive endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic duct interventions. Here, we describe the case of a 42-year-old man who presented with severe abdominal pain that had lasted for 3 mo. Computed tomography scanning showed evidence of chronic obstructive pancreatitis with pancreatic duct stricture at genu. After conventional endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography failed to eliminate the symptoms, EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy (PGS) was applied using a fully covered, self-expandable, 10-mm diameter metallic stent. The treatment resolved the case and the patient experienced no adverse events. EUS-guided PGS with a regular biliary fully covered, self-expandable metallic stent effectively and safely treated pancreatic-type pain in chronic pancreatitis.     

Multiple stenting of refractory pancreatic duct strictures in severe chronic pancreatitis: long-term results

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Dominant pancreatic duct strictures located in the head of the pancreas in patients with severe chronic pancreatitis are often managed by endoscopic placement of a single plastic stent. Patients with refractory strictures after prolonged stenting require repeated stent replacement or surgical pancreaticojejunostomy. Placement of multiple plastic stents has proved effective in managing postoperative biliary strictures. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and long-term results of multiple stenting of refractory pancreatic strictures in severe chronic pancreatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 19 patients with severe chronic pancreatitis (16 men, three women; mean age 45 years) and with a single pancreatic stent through a refractory dominant stricture in the pancreatic head underwent the following protocol: (i) removal of the single pancreatic stent; (ii) balloon dilation of the stricture; (iii) insertion of the maximum number of stents allowed by the stricture tightness and the pancreatic duct diameter; and (iv) removal of stents after 6 to 12 months. RESULTS: The median number of stents placed through the major or minor papilla was 3, with diameters ranging from 8.5 to 11.5 Fr and length from 4 to 7 cm. Only one patient (5.5 %) had persistent stricture after multiple stenting. During a mean follow-up of 38 months after removal, 84 % of patients were asymptomatic, and 10.5 % had symptomatic stricture recurrence. No major complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic multiple stenting of dominant pancreatic duct strictures in chronic pancreatitis is a feasible and safe technique. Multiple pancreatic stenting is promising in obtaining persistent stricture dilation on long-term follow-up in the setting of severe chronic pancreatitis.     

Alcoholic pancreatitis and parotitis: utility of lipase and urinary amylase clearance determinations

Acute alcoholic pancreatitis is a clinical diagnosis made in patients who have acute upper abdominal pain, emesis, and hyperamylasemia soon after ingesting alcohol. We sought to determine whether the clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis was supported by elevated serum levels of pancreatic isoamylase, currently the most specific test for pancreatitis. Serum lipase levels and urinary amylase/creatinine clearance ratios were examined for comparison with pancreatic isoamylase concentrations. Potential sources for salivary isoamylasemia were explored with technetium scans of the parotid glands. Of 19 patients with a clinical diagnosis of alcoholic pancreatitis, 16 had elevated levels of pancreatic isoamylase, and 17 had salivary hyperamylasemia. The diagnostic specificity of the serum lipase level or the urinary amylase/creatinine clearance ratio was excellent compared to that of the pancreatic isoamylase level. Three patients had elevated levels of salivary isoamylase only. Scans of the parotid glands in the study group revealed significantly higher uptake values than scans in nonalcoholic control subjects, suggesting one possible source of elevated levels of salivary isoamylase.     

Chronic Pancreatitis: Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive, irreversible inflammatory and fibrosing disease of the pancreas with clinical manifestations of chronic abdominal pain, weight loss, and permanent pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. In the United States, a long history of heavy alcohol consumption is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis. This review discusses the different modalities such as computed tomography, transabdominal and endoscopic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography available to image chronic pancreatitis, along with their advantages and limitations. In addition, topics such as groove pancreatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis are examined, along with a discussion of distinguishing chronic pancreatitis from pancreatic adenocarcinoma.     

慢性胰腺炎临床特征分析

目的探讨慢性胰腺炎（CP）的病因、临床特点、诊断和治疗措施。方法回顾性总结2008年2月-2011年12月间住院的47例CP患者的临床诊治特点。结果47例CP患者中,胆源性24例（51．1％）,酒精性17例（36．2％）;腹部疼痛40例（87．2％）,排便次数增多及脂肪泻12例（25．5％）,糖尿病13例（27．6％）。临床症状结合超声检查基本确诊者16例（34．0％）,CT检查确诊41例（87．2％）,经内镜逆行性胰胆管造影检查确诊者31例（88．6％）。腹部X线平片发现有钙化灶者9例。以Ⅱ型和1期患者居多,分别为44．7％和51．1％,其次为Ⅳ型和3期。行手术治疗者13例（27．6％）,腹痛症状明显缓解者10例;内镜下治疗者24例（51．6％）,腹痛缓解者21例;单纯药物治疗者10例（21．2％）,药物选择胰酶制剂、质子泵抑制剂,对合并糖尿病者予以口服降糖药治疗。疼痛明显的加用止痛剂,药物治疗后平均7～14d,疼痛减轻,完全缓解4例。结论CP发病原因以胆源性为主,CP的疼痛治疗困难,需内科、内镜和外科的综合治疗。     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided injection: a close look at celiac plexus block and celiac plexus neurolysis.

This article describes the use of interventional endoscopic ultrasonography, namely, endoscopic ultrasound-guided injection therapy for the treatment of pain. With the assistance of endoscopic ultrasonography, it is now possible to safely inject the celiac plexus with pharmacological agents to provide analgesia in painful pancreatic conditions such as cancer and chronic pancreatitis. The indications for celiac plexus injection, the procedure, required accessories, complications, and nursing care are discussed.     

Ultrasound imaging in tropical pancreatitis.

Tropical pancreatitis differs in many respects from the chronic pancreatitis seen in Western countries. The present study was carried out to evaluate the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of tropical pancreatitis (TP) and to characterize the ultrasound findings in tropical pancreatitis. Patients referred with a suspected diagnosis of tropical pancreatitis formed the subjects for the study. Plain x-rays of the abdomen, ultrasonography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) were carried out in all cases. Of the 25 cases, 17 patients had ERCP evidence of pancreatitis. Duct dilatation (82%) and demonstration of calculi were the most common ultrasound findings. Pancreatic atrophy (53%) was also a major feature of TP. Compared with ERCP, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 100%. Only one case with mild changes in ERCP was missed by ultrasonography. For the diagnosis and planning of surgery in TP, ultrasonography can replace ERCP. Even complications like cysts and malignancies are detected by ultrasonography.     

慢性胰腺炎后胰腺假性囊肿的影像表现及临床处理

胰腺假性囊肿是急、慢性胰腺炎或胰腺外伤的常见并发症之一,以慢性胰腺炎后假性囊肿的发病率较高。近年来随着CT、MRI、经内镜逆行性胰胆管造影(ERCP)、超声、内镜超声等检查技术的发展,临床对胰腺假性囊肿有了新的认识。本文主要就慢性胰腺炎后假性囊肿的形成机制、影像表现和治疗原则进行综述。     

Clinical course of alcoholic pancreatitis

AIM: To study a natural course of alcoholic pancreatitis (AP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Follow-up clinical, laboratory and radiation examinations were made of 170 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis. Exocrine secretion of the pancreas was assessed by secretin-pancreozymin test. Morphological signs of pancreatitis were studied in patients who had died of pancreatic cancer. RESULTS: In 24% of patients AP manifested with acute attack. In 76% it was preceded with weak clinical symptoms. AP ran was complicated with pseudotumorous pancreatitis, calcinosis and pancreatic pseudocysts. Pancreatic secretion was suppressed in 87% patients though clinically it was evident only in 12% cases. Autopsy cases of pancreatic cancer carried morphological markers of chronic pancreatitis. CONCLUSION: Various clinical forms of AP represent stages of its development: early symptoms, recurrences, complications and decompensated failure of the pancreatic function. The presence of pancreatitis in patients with pancreatic cancer causes difficulties in differential diagnosis between these diseases.