The interpretation of retrograde pancreatography in the elderly.

Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography is regarded as the most specific technique in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. In the elderly the relevance of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography changes in establishing the diagnosis is disputed. The pancreatograms of 101 patients aged seventy-five years or more, who had endoscopic retrograde pancreatography for suspected biliary or pancreatic pathology, were reviewed. Only four patients subsequently proved to have unequivocal chronic pancreatitis. There was no significant difference in the size or contour of the main pancreatic duct, or in side branch changes between those patients presenting with common bile duct stones, incidental biliary pathology and pain of probable pancreatic origin. Three definite diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis emerged--duct obstruction with a stricture, gross irregularity of the main pancreatic duct and the presence of large cavities.