Sclerosing-cholangitis-like changes in pancreatic disease.

In a retrospective analysis of endoscopic cholangiograms in 66 patients with pancreatic disease we found sclerosing-cholangitis-like changes in 83% of cases. Excluding patients with intrapancreatic constriction of the distal common bile duct, 70% of patients with chronic pancreatitis, 60% with acute pancreatitis and 100% with pancreatic cancer had these abnormalities. The possible significance of these changes, which are unlikely to be secondary to pancreatic disease, are discussed with reference to the published literature on sclerosing cholangitis.