RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PANCREATIC EXOCRINE FUNCTION AND DUCTAL MORPHOLOGY IN CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Abstract

Fifty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis or suspected chronic pancrratitis were investigated by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and the caerulein secretin test in order to explore the relationship between exocrine function and ductal morphology. According to pancreatogram the patients were divided into three groups, namely group A (n=15) with moderate or severe irregular dilatation of the main duct, group B (n=12) with irregular dilatation located in the side branches, and group C with normal pancreatogram. The sensitivity for group A or B, the specificity for group C and the overall efficiency of secretory parameters were calculated. The highest efficiency (83%) was obtained from bicarbonate output or volume. The efficiency of amylase, lipase, trypsin or chymotrypsin was 70-75%. The bicarbonate output was used to categorize each patient in that pancreatogram group whose mean bicarbonate output was the closest. The correct allocation for group A was 88%, for group C was 80%, but for group B was only 29%, and the total correct allocation was 68%.