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Aim Endoscopic pancreatic stenting for refractory pancreatic duct strictures associated with impacted pancreatic stones in chronic pancreatitis cases has yielded conflicting results. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in chronic pancreatitis patients with pancreatic duct strictures. Methods Pancreatic sphincterotomy, dilatation procedures, pancreatic brush cytology, and pancreatic juice cytology were routinely performed, and malignant diseases were excluded. After gradual dilatation, a 10 Fr plastic pancreatic stent was inserted. The stents were replaced every 3 months and removed after the strictures were dilated. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the risk of main pancreatic duct restenosis. Results Endoscopic pancreatic stents were successfully placed in 41 of a total of 59 patients (69.5%). The median duration of pancreatic stenting was 276 days. Pain relief was obtained in 37 of 41 patients (90.2%). Seventeen patients (41.5%) had recurrence of main pancreatic duct stricture, and restenting was performed in 16 patients (average placement period 260 days). During the follow-up period, pancreatic cancer developed in three patients (5.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of remnant stones after stenting treatment was significantly associated with a higher rate of main pancreatic duct restenosis (p = 0.03). Conclusion The use of 10 Fr S-type plastic pancreatic stents with routine exchange was effective for both short-term and long-term outcomes in chronic pancreatitis patients with benign pancreatic duct strictures and impacted pancreatic stones.

Background In pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), reflux of pancreatic juice and bile produces various pathological conditions in the biliary tract and pancreas. Clinical features according to the classification of PBM by confluence between the distal bile duct and the main pancreatic duct proposed in 2015 were evaluated in children. Methods Clinical features and complicating diseases according to the PBM classification were evaluated in 168 adult PBM patients. Patency of Santorini duct and associated biliary carcinomas were evaluated in 123 patients. Results Similar to children, there were significant differences in age (P < 0.01) and type of common bile duct (P < 0.01) between the groups of the classification. Unlike in children, there was no significant difference in the incidence of abdominal pain and hyperamylasemia. There were 87 associated biliary carcinomas (79 gallbladder carcinomas and eight cholangiocarcinomas). PBM patients with a cudgel‐type Santorini duct, which is greater than 2 mm in diameter, did not develop biliary carcinomas, compared to 61.1% of those with other types of Santorini duct (P < 0.01). Conclusions Clinical features according to the PBM classification in adults were different from those in children. Although biliary carcinomas were frequently seen in adult PBM patients, none of those with a cudgel‐type Santorini duct developed biliary carcinoma.