Chronic pancreatitis in north-east Italy: a clinical and pathological study.

The clinical and pathological features of 132 patients of North-Eastern Italy with proven chronic pancreatitis (presence of radiological pancreatic calcification and/or surgical and histological data) have been studied. The disease appeared to be associated with chronic and regular alcoholic habits in most cases. Histo-pathological examinations showed calcifying pancreatitis also in patients without radiological pancreatic calcification. Chronic pancreatitis in North-Eastern Italy seems to be similar to that described in France, except for a high frequency of associated gallstones.