1974 Volume 113 Issue 2 Pages 97-111
In order to investigate the relationship between cholelithiasis and chronic pancreatitis, biopsy of the pancreas was performed Iat laparotomy in 151 cases with cholelithiasis, and the pancreatic exocrine function test using secretin was applied in 119 out of them. Thirty-one cases with gastric lesion were served as controls. The disturbance of the pancreatic exocrine function was demonstrated in 30 (25%) of the 119 cases; mildly disturbed in 25, moderately in 4, and markedly in one. Of a total of 30 cases with disturbed pancreatic exocrine function, there were 10 cases with decreased volume of the duodenal aspirate, 17 with decreased maximum bicarbonate concentration and 9 with decreased output of amylase. Thus, cases with reduced maximum bicarbonate concentration were most frequently observed. In the majority of the cases with bacteria in bile, with common bile duct dilatation and with hypercholesterolemia, the disturbance of the pancreatic exocrine function of moderate and marked degree was observed. A significant correlation was indicated between the histology of the pancreas and the result of the secretin test in the cases with moderately and markedly disturbed exocrine function. However, no significant difference was demonstrated between the controls and the group of cholelithiasis in morphological features. Only 5 cases (3%) of 151 cases with cholelithiasis were regarded as chronic pancreatitis.
