Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. Differences in morphologic changes in the pancreatic duct and the bile duct.

The radiological findings in ERCP in 49 patients (ERP 49 patients and ERC 24 patients) with pancreatic diseases were evaluated blindly (24 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 25 patients with pancreatic cancer as a final diagnosis). Obstructions of the main pancreatic duct were found in 16 out of 24 patients with chronic pancreatitis and in 24 out of 25 patients with pancreatic cancer. Irregularity of obstructions was seen significantly more often in patients with cancer. Cholangiography demonstrated obstructions of the distal part of the common bile duct in both groups of patients, but irregularity of obstructions was exclusively seen in the cancer group. Though characteristic radiological features were demonstrated, a safe diagnosis must probably still rely on biopsy.