Comparative Diagnostic Value of Endoscopic Pancreatography and Pancreatic Function Tests

Abstract

Nakano, S., Horiguchi, Y., Takeda. T., Suzuki, T. & Nakajima, S. Comparative diagnostic value of endoscopic pancreatography and pancreatic function tests. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 383-390.

120 patients with pancreatic, hepato-biliary, and duodenal diseases were subjected to endoscopic pancreatography, pancreozymin-secretin test (PS test), urinary amylase determinations, and glucose tolerance test. While abnormalities in pancreatograms were variable, 86% of the patients who had irregular caliber of the pancreatic duct were abnormal in PS test. Percentage of the patients with irregular caliber was best correlated with the degree of pancreatic dysfunction. In general, the incidence of pancreatic dysfunction increased as the diameter of the duct increased. Pancreatic dysfunction was found in approximately 35% of the patients who had no abnormal pancreatogram. In several instances, pancreatograms were crucial in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatograms in patients with carcinoma of the pancreas were classified into three groups and the pancreatic function was evaluated. Since considerable discrepancy between the morphological and functional tests exists, both endoscopic pancreatography and a series of pancreatic function tests are necessary in the detection of pancreatic disease.

Key-words::

• Amylasuria
• carcinoma
• endoscopy
• pancreas
• pancreatitis
• pancreatography
• pancreozymin-secretin test