The value of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography in the management of pancreatic ascites.

A case of pancreatic ascites is presented in which the preoperative use of endoscopic retrograde cannulation of ampulla of Vater (ERCP) precisely located the site of pancreatic duct disruption and thus directed the choice of operation best suited to this patients. We suggest that in this form of ascites preoperative ERCP may aid in the selection of those patients whose lesions are surgically correctable.