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Summary.-Ovarian function was studied in 18 female patients treated for abdominal tumours during childhood. All received abdominal radiotherapy as part of their treatment and were studied between 1 and 26 years after irradiation. The serum gonadotrophins and oestradiol levels were consistent with ovarian failure in each case but there was a disproportionate elevation in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) when compared to serum luteinizing hormone (LH) in 16. In 2 patients, the radiotherapeutic field extended downwards only as far as the sacral promontory. However, these 2 girls show similar evidence of ovarian failure to that in the other 16.

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EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS Endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function was studied in a small group of controlled patients and in patients with chronic pancreatitis and with mild diabetes mellitus. Patients with chronic pancreatitis showed impaired production of pancreatic enzyme and inadequate production of insulin but no close correlation between exocrine and endocrine function could be demonstrated. Patients with diabetes mellitus show normal exocrine function but plasma insulin concentration was equal to or greater than normal.The exocrine function of the pancreas has been extensively studied in chronic pancreatitis (Burton, Evans, Harper, Howat, Oleesky, Scott, and Varley, 1960;Sun and Shay, 1960) but little is known of endocrine pancreatic function in this condition. In a recent study, Marks, Banks, and Jackson (1964) found that diabetes mellitus occurred in over 25% of 250 patients with chronic pancreatitis and if pancreatic calcification was present diabetes was found in 75 % of the patients. The glucose tolerance test was impaired in over 70% of all their patients with chronic pancreatitis and it could be abnormal even when the duodenal intubation tests were normal.

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