Isoamylases in pancreatic carcinoma and chronic relapsing pancreatitis.

Pancreatic isoamylases were determined in serum and in duodenal aspirate in 7 patients with pancreatitis. The serum activities were abnormally low in 3 cases with cancer and in 7 cases with pancreatitis. In 2 cases with normal pancreatic isoamylase activities in serum, pancreatic disease was reflected by an abnormal isoamylast pattern. Thus the serum amylast determination was abnormal in 12 of the 20 patients.