Persistence of the X-ray-transparent matrix of vanishing pancreatic stones.

We present three observations of patients with chronic calcifying pancreatitis with multiple pancreatic calculi visible on X-ray films of the abdomen. These patients were studied with plain films and sonography. On X-ray films, visible calcifications disappeared. In contrast, sonography and computerized tomography showed that the X-ray-transparent material of stones persisted. It is known that these stones are composed of different insoluble residues of PSP-S2-5, the secretory calcium stabilizer of pancreatic juice. This shows that the spontaneous or drug-induced disappearance of pancreatic stones on radiologic films is not sufficient for healing chronic calcifying pancreatitis.