Pattern of pain, duct morphology, and pancreatic function in chronic pancreatitis. A comparative study.

In 101 patients with suspected or definite chronic pancreatitis a pancreatic function test, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography, and an interview with special regard to pain were performed. Decrease in pancreatic function was correlated to dilatation of the pancreatic duct system. However, no correlation between the duct morphology and the severity of pain was found. Patients with pancreatic pseudocysts were evenly distributed among the groups in accordance with pancreatic function, but they seemed to be concentrated in the groups with severe pain.