[Sonographic demonstration of the pancreatic duct and its clinical relevance (author's transl)].

Out of 19 patients with sonographically demonstrable pancreatic ducts, the Wirsungian duct was found to be dilated on endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in 18 cases and of normal calibre in only 1 case. The cause of dilatation of the pancreatic duct was chronic pancreatitis in 10 patients and pancreatic carcinoma in 8 patients. There were two differing forms of duct representation in the sonographic picture. Retrospective evaluation of sonographic and ERCP results in 43 patients showed that demonstration of a pancreatic duct of normal calibre is seldom possible using ultrasound. As dilated pancreatic ducts are demonstrable sonographically more readily such a finding must be taken as indicative of pancreatic disease.