Abstract
In order to clarify the mechanisms of the development of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (CAP), three-dimensional reconstruction of pancreatic ducts was made from the specimens of the pancreas obtained at autopsy or surgery from the patients as follows: 3 patients without pancreatic disease (control), 2 patients with chronic non-alcoholic pancreatitis (CNAP), 5 patients with CAP, and 4 patients with chronic alcoholism. The reconstruction models of the pancreatic duct and pathohistological findings of the pancreas were compared among these 4 groups.
The ductal models in CAP revealed uneven surface, winding, meandering, tortuosity, and cystic dilatation. The pancreatic duct system in CNAP had a relatively smooth surface and maintained the tree- like architecture in contrast with that of CAP. In spite of minor histological changes, the ductal models in chronic alcoholics showed tortuosity, winding, meandering, swelling in branching points and resembled those in CAP.
These results suggest that the deformity of pancreatic ducts in chronic alcoholism is considered to be one of the predisposing pathogenetic changes of CAP.
