胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗

目的 探讨胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗方式.方法 对我院自2002年1月至2010年11月收治的28例慢性阻塞性胰腺炎患者的临床资料进行回顾性总结.其中13例患者血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶升高伴有反复急性腹痛,经影像学检查显示胰管全程扩张改变,外科探查明确诊断为胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎.对此13例患者的临床表现、诊断方法、手术探查发现和治疗方法进行分析,并对术后的状况包括疼痛复发、生活质量、胰腺的影像学变化和血清胰腺酶学进行随访观察.结果 13例患者均具有典型的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的临床表现,但12例患者的影像学表现有别于十二指肠乳突、壶腹或胰腺导管内肿瘤导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的图像特征,手术探查和影像学揭示多数患者的胆胰共同通道过短或存在胰腺分裂畸形,对12例患者实施十二指肠乳突、壶腹及胰管开口切开成形术或副乳突切开成形术,术后随访结果显示均未再伴有胰腺酶学升高的急性腹痛发作.结论 以胰管扩张为主而不伴有胆管慢性梗阻是胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的影像学特征,十二指肠乳突炎症或副乳突炎症时容易在过短的胆胰共同通道或胰腺分裂畸形的患者中引发胰管开口的狭窄而发生慢性阻塞性胰腺炎,纠正胰管开口狭窄、改善胰管引流的局部成形术是简单、有效的治疗方法.     

胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗

目的 探讨胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗方式.方法 对我院自2002年1月至2010年11月收治的28例慢性阻塞性胰腺炎患者的临床资料进行回顾性总结.其中13例患者血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶升高伴有反复急性腹痛,经影像学检查显示胰管全程扩张改变,外科探查明确诊断为胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎.对此13例患者的临床表现、诊断方法、手术探查发现和治疗方法进行分析,并对术后的状况包括疼痛复发、生活质量、胰腺的影像学变化和血清胰腺酶学进行随访观察.结果 13例患者均具有典型的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的临床表现,但12例患者的影像学表现有别于十二指肠乳突、壶腹或胰腺导管内肿瘤导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的图像特征,手术探查和影像学揭示多数患者的胆胰共同通道过短或存在胰腺分裂畸形,对12例患者实施十二指肠乳突、壶腹及胰管开口切开成形术或副乳突切开成形术,术后随访结果显示均未再伴有胰腺酶学升高的急性腹痛发作.结论 以胰管扩张为主而不伴有胆管慢性梗阻是胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的影像学特征,十二指肠乳突炎症或副乳突炎症时容易在过短的胆胰共同通道或胰腺分裂畸形的患者中引发胰管开口的狭窄而发生慢性阻塞性胰腺炎,纠正胰管开口狭窄、改善胰管引流的局部成形术是简单、有效的治疗方法.     

胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗

目的 探讨胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的诊断和外科治疗方式.方法 对我院自2002年1月至2010年11月收治的28例慢性阻塞性胰腺炎患者的临床资料进行回顾性总结.其中13例患者血清淀粉酶和脂肪酶升高伴有反复急性腹痛,经影像学检查显示胰管全程扩张改变,外科探查明确诊断为胰管开口部位炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎.对此13例患者的临床表现、诊断方法、手术探查发现和治疗方法进行分析,并对术后的状况包括疼痛复发、生活质量、胰腺的影像学变化和血清胰腺酶学进行随访观察.结果 13例患者均具有典型的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的临床表现,但12例患者的影像学表现有别于十二指肠乳突、壶腹或胰腺导管内肿瘤导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的图像特征,手术探查和影像学揭示多数患者的胆胰共同通道过短或存在胰腺分裂畸形,对12例患者实施十二指肠乳突、壶腹及胰管开口切开成形术或副乳突切开成形术,术后随访结果显示均未再伴有胰腺酶学升高的急性腹痛发作.结论 以胰管扩张为主而不伴有胆管慢性梗阻是胰管开口炎性病变导致的慢性阻塞性胰腺炎的影像学特征,十二指肠乳突炎症或副乳突炎症时容易在过短的胆胰共同通道或胰腺分裂畸形的患者中引发胰管开口的狭窄而发生慢性阻塞性胰腺炎,纠正胰管开口狭窄、改善胰管引流的局部成形术是简单、有效的治疗方法.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the diagnostic methods and reasonable surgical interventions for the chronic obstructive pancreatitis due to the inflammatory lesions at the opening of the pancreatic duct Methods From January 2002 to November 2010 the data of 28 patients who were diagnosed as the chronic obstructive pancreatitis (COP) was retrospectively reviewed. Out of the 28 patients, it was analyzed that the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, surgical finding and surgical interventions of the 13 patients who were diagnosed as COP due to the inflammatory lesions at the opening of the pancreatic duct in the exploratory operation accompanying recurrent acute abdominal pain with increased serum amylase and lipase,dilation of entire pancreatic duct on imaging before surgery. The conditions included pain recrudescence,quality of life, pancreatic changes on imaging and the serum amylase and lipase after surgery were recorded.Results All the 13 patients had clinical manifestations of COP. However, 12 patients had different manifestations on imaging from those chronic pancreatitis imaging due to tumors at the duodenal papilla,ampulla or inner pancreatic duct. Via exploratory operation and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) , there were short pancreaticobiliary common channel or pancreas divisum existing in most patients. There was no acute abdominal pain with the increased serum amylase and lipase in the 12 patients who receiving the transduodenal mastoid, ampulla and pancreatic ductal opening incision and plasty, the paramastoideus incision and plasty in the visit Conclusions The imaging character of COP due to the inflammatory lesions at the opening of the pancreatic duct is the dilation of the pancreatic duct without the chronic obstruction in the bile duct The patients with short pancreaticobiliary common channel or pancreas divisum easily suffer COP due to the stenosis of the pancreatic ductal opening caused by the duodenal mastoiditis or paramastoiditis. The local plasty surgery to correct the stenosis at the pancreatic ductal opening and improve the drainage of the pancreatic duct is an easy and effective management.     

保留胰腺组织并同时引流胃、胆胰管以治疗慢性胰腺炎的疼痛

慢性胰腺炎的纤维性变和组织萎缩可波及胰管和胰腺内段胆管,导致胆胰管,甚或十二指肠梗阻。作者曾收治上述病例58例,均经手术和组织学检查证实为慢性胰腺炎,其中50例系酗酒所致。全组平均年龄为43岁(18～63岁),男41例,女17例。57例主要症状为疼痛,另1例为无痛性黄疸。术前胆胰管造影、超声图象、CT、胃肠钡餐或经皮肝穿刺胆管造影显示胰管狭窄,或同时伴有胰腺内段胆管和十二指肠梗阻。胰管狭窄部远端导管扩张者38例,为大胰管组;胰腺内导管全部细小者20例,为小胰管组。21例同时伴有胆管梗阻,4例伴有十二指肠梗阻,13例伴有胰腺假性囊肿。     

胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎32例报告

目的 探讨胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎的诊断和治疗方法. 方法 回顾分析32例胰头肿块型慢性胰腺炎的病例资料. 结果 本组病例平均年龄47.4岁,主要症状为上腹部疼痛(100%)和梗阻性黄疸(56.3%),B超检查阳性率95.8%,CT,ERCP和MRCP阳性率均为100%.症状较轻无胆胰管梗阻(8例)或术中病理切片排除恶性病变(5例)共行内科综合治疗13例,症状严重行胰头十二指肠切除8例,胆管空肠Y型吻合5例、胰管空肠Y型吻合2例,胆管胰管或囊肿空肠吻合3例,EST1例. 结论 本病主要症状为上腹疼痛.诊断主要依靠影像学检查.症状较轻,无胆、胰管梗阻者可行内科治疗.症状严重,发生胆胰管梗阻或不能排除恶性病变者应行手术治疗.根据病变状况选择术式,胰头十二指肠切除比较合理.     

胰头占位性病变的诊断与治疗

目的 总结胰头占位性病变的诊断与治疗经验.方法 回顾性分析2011年1月至2014年4月中国医科大学附属第一医院收治的247例胰头占位性病变患者的临床资料.术前均行胰腺增强CT和(或)胰腺MRI等影像学检查.血清学检查包括AFP、CA19-9、CA125、CEA,对于怀疑自身免疫性胰腺炎的患者检查血清IgG4.临床诊断为胰头癌、胰头肿块、肿块型胰腺炎的患者行术中病理学检查.胰头癌根据肿瘤的分期及浸润程度选择胰十二指肠切除术、扩大的胰十二指肠切除术或胆肠吻合和(或)胃肠吻合术.肿块型慢性胰腺炎在患者及家属充分了解并同意的前提下选择行保留十二指肠的胰头切除术或胰十二指肠切除术.胰腺良性及低度恶性肿瘤应在肿瘤完整切除的基础上尽量保留肿瘤周围的组织和器官,行个体化治疗.结果 胰头实性占位性病变194例,其中胰头癌125例、胰头肿块45例、肿块型慢性胰腺炎9例、自身免疫性胰腺炎11例,胰岛素瘤4例;胰头囊性占位性病变53例,其中黏液性囊腺瘤12例、浆液性囊腺瘤8例、胰腺囊肿17例、实性假乳头状瘤12例、导管内乳头状黏液瘤4例.病理学检查确诊胰腺癌的71例患者术前肿瘤系列检查阳性率分别为:AFP为7.0％ (5/71)、CA19-9为94.4％ (67/71)、CA125为42.3％(30/71)、CEA为0.12例肿块型慢性胰腺炎肿瘤系列检查阳性率分别为:AFP为1/12、CA19-9为4/12、CA125为1/12、CEA为0.119例患者进行手术治疗获得病理学诊断,其中胰头癌71例、肿块型慢性胰腺炎7例、胰岛素瘤4例、胰腺结核1例,黏液性囊腺瘤8例、浆液性囊腺瘤4例、胰腺假性囊肿6例、巨大淋巴管瘤1例、淋巴上皮囊肿1例、实性假乳头状瘤12例、导管内乳头状黏液瘤4例.247例胰头占位性病变患者中,61例行胰十二指肠切除术,4例行保留十二指肠的胰头切除术,4例行胰头、胰颈部切除术,2例行钩突部分切除术,9例行肿瘤摘除术,38例行胆肠吻合和(或)胃肠吻合术,22例行ERCP+内支架治疗,18例行PTCD+内支架治疗,1例行剖腹探查,88例未行治疗.结论 胰头占位性病变的临床诊断及鉴别诊断主要依靠病史、临床表现、实验室检查及超声、CT、MRI检查.根据肿瘤性质、疾病种类个体化制订手术方案,对胰头良性及低度恶性的肿瘤应行个体化治疗,在肿瘤完整切除的基础上尽量保留肿瘤周围的组织和器官,术中病理学诊断有利于手术方案的选择.     

副胰管括约肌成形术有助于长期防止胰腺分裂症病人的复发性急性急腺炎

胰腺分裂症与胰腺炎两者之间可能的关系仍不明确，手术或内镜处理副胰管壶腹的指征也不明确。为此，作者对1985～1992年收治的胰腺分裂症进行副胰管括约肌成形术，前瞻性随访5年，研究其防止急性胰腺炎反复发作和消除胰性疼痛的效果。胰腺分裂症均经内镜胰管造影证实；急性胰腺炎发作的标准应符合典型的临床表现、血清淀粉酶值至少为正常的2倍、无胰腺钙化、有饮酒史、ERCP示胰管扩张或其他慢性胰腺炎的表现，B起检查显示无胆结石。符合上述标准者共37例，其中29例曾有2次或更多的急性胰腺炎发作。探查手术时，3例的胰腺质硬，提示有慢性…     

胰腺结石(附9例报告)

本文报告9例胰腺结石,其中4例行胰管切开取石,胰管空肠Roux-Y吻合;1例行胰十二指肠切除术;1例癌变者因合并肝转移仅行剖腹探查及活检术;3例未手术。本组结果表明:胰腺结石的病因除与酗酒、慢性胰腺炎、营养不良和甲状旁腺机能亢进等有关外,胰管开口及总胆管下端狭窄导致胰液淤滞可能是原发性胰腺成石的重要因素之一。本文还就胰腺结石的诊断和治疗进行了讨论。     

胆胰结合部良性病变的诊断和处理

胆胰结合部的范围包括胆总管下部(3、4段)、胰头、十二指肠三者的毗邻关系[1]。胆胰结合部的良性病变包括该部位的结石,急、慢性炎症,良性肿瘤,胆胰管末段、Oddi乳头狭窄、梗阻和功能障碍等,其中以胆总管下段原发或继发结石最为多见,特别是壶腹结石嵌顿容易并发胆管炎和胰腺炎。反复发作胆管炎、慢性胰腺炎、胰管结石,尤其胰头部肿块型慢性胰腺炎和结石、十二指肠乳头旁或乳头部憩室并发憩室和乳头炎,都是引起胆胰管末段和乳头狭窄、梗阻或Oddi括约肌功能紊乱的原因。胆总管下段、壶腹和乳头部良性肿瘤,如乳头状瘤、腺瘤、息肉、胰头部囊腺…     

ERGP所致胆胰汇合部并发症的诊断和处理

胆胰汇合部解剖和ERCP应用 ERCP应用于胆胰管汇合部,即通过十二指肠乳头插管至胆胰汇合部行胆道、胰管造影和相应的治疗.在解剖上胆胰管汇合部是指胆总管和主胰管的末端在进入十二指肠前的汇合,一般伴有扩张,因此也称为乏特(Vater)壶腹部,其包括胆胰管的汇合、包绕汇合部的Oddi括约肌系统、十二指肠上的开口以及被覆肠黏膜的十二指肠大乳头.胆胰管汇合有三种类型:①形成共同通道,长1～8 mm,占60%;②胆胰管平行并在乳头处共同开口,占38%;③胆胰管分别开口于十二指肠,占2%.     

Surgical management of recurrent pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum

OBJECTIVE: To analyze an institutional experience with pancreatitis in childhood to clarify the frequency of pancreas divisum in that patient population, the characteristics of pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum, and the role of surgical management in their treatment. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The role of pancreas divisum in causing acute and relapsing pancreatitis and chronic, recurring abdominal pain is controversial. Although the anatomical abnormality is present from birth, most investigators have reported cases with onset of symptoms in adulthood. The reported pediatric experience with this disorder is small, and the natural history of pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum has not been well elucidated. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all children 18 years of age and younger with a discharge diagnosis of pancreatitis identified 135 patients treated in the authors' institution from 1978 to 1998. Ten patients were found to have anatomical variants of pancreas divisum associated with recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. The medical records of these patients were reviewed for data on the presentation, diagnostic findings, imaging studies, treatment, surgical findings, and pathologic findings in these children. Chart review and telephone calls were used to assess the current state of health in nine patients available for follow-up. RESULTS: Pancreas divisum was identified in 7.4% of all children with pancreatitis and 19.2% of children with relapsing or chronic pancreatitis. Patients had early onset of recurrent episodic epigastric pain and vomiting, at a mean age of 6 years. Three patients had a positive family history of pancreatitis and one was proven by DNA analysis to have hereditary pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was documented by elevated amylase or lipase levels, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was the method of diagnosis of pancreas divisum in all patients. Eight patients had complete pancreas divisum and two had incomplete variants. Eight patients underwent surgery to improve ductal drainage. Seven underwent transduodenal sphincteroplasty of the accessory papilla, along with sphincteroplasty of the major papilla in two (plus septoplasty in one). Three patients underwent longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy, as a primary procedure in one patient with midductal stenosis and in two because of recurring pancreatitis after sphincteroplasty. The surgical findings and histologic examination of five patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy revealed striking changes of advanced chronic pancreatitis. Patients responding to sphincteroplasty alone showed less severe histologic changes. Overall, three of seven patients had excellent results, three were improved, and one had continued disabling attacks of pancreatitis. The mean duration of follow-up was 7.3 years, and there were no deaths. No patients had endocrine or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and none required chronic analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreas divisum is an important cause of recurrent pancreatitis in childhood and should be sought aggressively in children with more than one episode of pancreatitis or pancreatitis with a history of chronic recurrent abdominal pain. Surgical intervention is directed toward relief of ductal obstruction and may involve accessory duct sphincteroplasty alone or in combination with major sphincteroplasty and septoplasty. Patients with more distal ductal obstruction or ductal ectasia may benefit from pancreaticojejunostomy.     

Dorsal duct sphincterotomy is effective long-term treatment of acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum

Nonbiliary, nonalcoholic pancreatic inflammatory disease was investigated by biochemical investigation, ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and secretin tests. Twenty-five consecutive cases were followed up for 12 months to 10 years after treatment of disease associated with pancreas divisum, diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Thirteen patients had no recurrence of acute pancreatitis after dorsal duct sphincterotomy alone, during long-term follow-up (mean, 54 months); one patient had recurrent pancreatitis during 33 months after failed sphincterotomy. Eight patients had variable results 12 months to 8 years (mean, 49 months) after dorsal duct sphincterotomy for pancreatic pain syndrome (without amylase elevation), three were pain free, and one had recurrent pancreatitis. For 10 years after dorsal duct sphincterotomy for chronic pancreatitis, one patient had no pain relief; after subtotal pancreatectomy and pancreaticojejunostomy of the dorsal duct, both for chronic pancreatitis, one patient each was pain free and normoglycemic after 54 and 12 months, respectively. Dorsal duct sphincterotomy alone is successful in achieving long-term freedom from recurrence of acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum. Pancreatic pain syndrome is not consistently improved by dorsal duct sphincterotomy. Chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum should be treated by resection or drainage procedures, not by dorsal duct sphincterotomy.     

Pancreas divisum and the dominant dorsal duct syndrome

Pancreas divisum, the most frequent congenital malformation of the pancreas, results from the absence of embryologic fusion of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts which keep an autonomy of drainage. The dorsal pancreatic duct is dominant and drains the major part of the pancreatic fluid through a non adapted accessory papilla. The high prevalence of pancreas divisum in patients presenting recurrent acute pancreatitis, the presence of obstructive pancreatitis electively located on the dorsal pancreatic duct and the results of the treatments targeted on the accessory papilla are the arguments pleading for the pathogenic character of the pancreas divisum. Currently, the diagnosis of pancreas divisum is based on magnetic resonance imaging. For symptomatic patients (after exclusion of patients with intestinal functional disorders), results of endoscopic sphincterotomy or surgical sphincteroplasty are favourable in 75% of patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis. They are worse in patients with chronic pain. Surgical sphincteroplasty must be discussed in the same manner as the endoscopic treatment for sometimes avoiding multiplication of the procedures.     

Pancreatographic findings in idiopathic acute pancreatitis

Background/purpose Despite extensive evaluation based on clinical history, biochemical tests, and noninvasive imaging studies, the cause of acute pancreatitis cannot be determined in 10 to 30% of patients, and a diagnosis of idiopathic acute pancreatitis is made. The purpose of this study was to clarify the pancreatographic findings in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis.Methods Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 34 patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis, and the pancreatographic findings were examined. Patency of the accessory pancreatic duct was examined by dye-injection endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in 16 of the 34 patients.Results In 11 patients (32%), the following anatomic abnormalities of the pancreatic or biliary system were demonstrated: complete pancreas divisum (n = 5), incomplete pancreas divisum (n = 2), high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts (n = 2), choledochocele (n = 1), and giant periampullary diverticulum (n = 1). Pancreatographic findings were normal in 17 patients. Eleven of these patients were examined by dye-injection ERP, and all were found to have nonpatent accessory pancreatic duct.Conclusions Anatomic abnormality of the pancreatic or biliary system is one of the major causes of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Closure of the accessory pancreatic duct may play a role in the development of idiopathic acute pancreatitis in patients with a normal pancreaticobiliary ductal system.     

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??CT and MRI manifestations of pancreatitis misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer SU Tao*??WANG Jian??JIN Han-tao??et al. *Department of Emergency??Center Hospital of Xuhui District??Shanghai 200031??China
Corresponding author : WANG Jian ??E-mail??wangjian_su@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract Objective To research the key points in differential diagnosis of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Methods The imaging data of 22 cases of pancreatitis misdiagnosed as pancreatic cancer between 2001 and 2010 at Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to the Second Military Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Results Manifestations of pancreatitis misdiagnosed as localized pancreatic cancer were pseudotumorous pancreatitis of pancreatic head or pancreatic body??pancreatic necrosis and pseudocyst??inhomogeneous lipidosis??retentive extension of pancreatic duct due to pancreas divisum and accumulation of blood in pancreatic duct due to pancreas divisum. Misdiagnosed as disseminated pancreatic cancer were disseminated enlargement of pancreas with inhomogeneous density, lesser blood supply lesion and pancreatitis without effusion. Misdiagnosed as metastases outside pancreas were parapancreatic pseudocysts or inflammatory mass misdiagnosed as metastatic lymph nodes. Accessory lesions of superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein misdiagnosed as vascular invasions. Conclusion Diagnosis of atypical pancreatic cancer should be based on a comprehensive knowledge of medical history and weekly follow-ups so as to exclude the possibility of atypical pancreatitis. As for patients who have both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer??treatments of pancreatitis with therapeutic values should always be emphasized regardless of the pancreatic cancer.     

Chronic pancreatitis and congenital strictures of the pancreatic duct

Chronic pancreatitis may occasionally be due to chronic incomplete obstruction of the pancreatic duct. Pancreas divisum is associated with a high incidence of recurrent pancreatitis or pancreatic pain, which may be due to relative stenosis of the accessory papilla through which most of the pancreatic secretions drain. Stenosis of the pancreatic duct at the site of fusion of he ventral and dorsal ducts has been demonstrated in 3 percent of autopsy subjects and in patients studied with ERCP. Two patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis presented with dilatation of the pancreatic duct which extended distally from the site of fusion of the embryonic ducts. We postulate that congenital stenosis of the main pancreatic duct may predispose to chronic pancreatitis in the absence of other obvious etiologic factors.     

Pancreas divisum: Its association with pancreatitis

Thirty-three patients with pancreas divisum studied by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are described. Documented pancreatitis was present in fifteen patients, and another eleven had recurrent episodes of pain typical of pancreatitis. The major papilla was cannulated in all patients, but the duct of Wirsung was opacified in only twenty-eight and showed changes of pancreatitis in one. Attempts were made to cannulate the minor papilla in fifteen of the thirty-three patients and were successful in four. The duct of Santorini showed typical changes of pancreatitis in one. One patient had pancreatic cancer, and the duct of Wirsung demonstrated only nonspecific abnormalities. In only two cases was pancreatitis due to alcohol abuse. The high incidence of pancreatitis and pancreatic-like pain in patients with pancreas divisum, may be due to the very small ampulla of the duct of Santorini which in these patients drains the majority of the pancreas, creating a marked relative stenosis of the ampulla. Surgery for relief of pain was required in five patients. The operation of choice, when pancreatitis involves the dorsal pancreas, appears to be distal resection with drainage.