A Clinical Study of Chronic Pancreatitis

Abstract

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS A series of 53 cases of chronic pancreatic disease is described and attention drawn to the frequency with which symptoms are persistent rather than intermittent. A plea is made for the use of the term 'progressive' rather than 'relapsing' in describing many of these cases. Alcohol was an unimportant factor in the aetiology. The possibility of achieving an accurate and early diagnosis using the serum secretin/pancreozymin test is emphasized. The frequent relief of symptoms and the prevention of progress of the disease by surgery, especially sphincterotomy, is recorded.