Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer (author's transl)

The endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) findings in 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 25 cases of pancreatic cancer are presented in this report. The diagnosis was confirmed in every case by surgery or at autopsy. ERCP was found to be a reliable means of differentiating between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis in most cases. Multiple lesions are typical of chronic pancreatitis. In solitary lesions a diagnosis can be reached only by consideration of the pancreatographic findings in conjunction with the clinical picture.