[The diameter of the pancreatic duct in relation to the size of the organ in chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)].

In 108 cases a postmortal pancreatography followed by histological examination was performed. The size of the pancreas could be measured on X-ray films after complete acinar filling. In normal cases organ size was proportional to the diameter of the duct, the diameter ranging between 2 and 4 mm (average 3,7 mm). In subjects with chronic pancreatitis, the diameter varied from 4 to 8 mm (average 5.7 mm). From these results it could be concluded, that the S/D-quotient (pancreatic surface seen on X-ray in cm2 divided by the greatest diameter of the main duct in mm) might be an aid in establishing the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis in doubtful cases. In chronic pancreatitis the width of the duct generally increases while the size of the organ decreases due to scar formation, thereby clearly reducing the S/D-quotient. The average quotient of our normal cases was 24,2 and that for cases of chronic pancreatitis was 12,0.