Gastrointestinal Radiology

, Volume 3, Issue 1, pp 173–180 | Cite as

Calcifications within the duct of Wirsung in calcific pancreatitis

  • Joan B. Hacken
  • Jeanne W. Baer
Article
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

A review of abdominal radiographs of 50 patients with the clinical diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis showed calcific pancreatitis in 27 patients. Ten patients had severe pain associated with weight loss. Five had obstruction of the duct of Wirsung: one by a pseudocyst and four by large stones near the ampulla of Vater. The radiologic workup presented emphasizes the need to study the duct of Wirsung in patients with chronic pancreatitis to guide the surgical approach for relief of intractable pain. Theories regarding the pathophysiology of calcium deposition and stone formation and migration are reviewed.

Key words

Chronic pancreatitis Calcific pancreatitis Obstruction of the duct of Wirsung Calculi within the duct of Wirsung 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag New York Inc 1978

Authors and Affiliations

  • Joan B. Hacken
    • 1
    • 2
  • Jeanne W. Baer
    • 1
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of RadiologySt. Luke's Hospital CenterNew YorkUSA
  2. 2.Columbia UniversityNew YorkUSA

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