Abstract
Chronic inflammatory lesions of the pancreas similar to human chronic pancreatitis were made by a direct injectin of Freund's complete adjuvant into the parenchyma of the pancreas of dogs. Using these experimental models of chronic pancreatitis, the pancreatograms were studied in comparison with results of pancreatic function test and histology. The conclusions obtained were as follows: 1) A diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis was valid if any remarkably abnormal localized finding was present. When such pronounced changes were not visualized, it was necessary to interpret various trivial findings compatible with chronic pancreatitis. in the whole pancrea-togram. 2) Dilatation of a pancreatic duct has usually been considered as one of the chracteristic findings of chronic pancreatitis. However, it seemed not necessarily true, because a simple dilatation of the pancreatic duct was frequently found in cases with negligible abnormalities in histology and/or pancreatic function. It was seen even without any other abnormalities. 3) Diminution of the number of branches of the ducts showed a good correlation with periductal fibroses in histology or an impairment of pancreatic function. It is desirable to visualize pancreatic ductal systems to know an aspect in the branches.
