Relationship between pancreatic exocrine function and ductal morphology in chronic pancreatitis

Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography for noninvasive assessment of chronic pancreatitis

“…Although CP is diagnosed by the presence of calcifications as well as by ductal irregularities on imaging studies, the extent of parenchymal fibrosis might differ in each case. It has been reported that pancreatic fibrosis is correlated with the decrease of exocrine function [19], and that the rate of progression of abnormalities of pancreatic morphology is more rapid in patients with alcoholic CP compared to the rate in patients with idiopathic CP [20], and these findings are supported by our analysis of risk factors for high SWV in the CP group; namely, the decrease of BMI and an alcoholic etiology.…”

Evaluation of Qualitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features for Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis

“…Furthermore, although diminished pancreatic secretory function is a feature of CP and may reflect severity, function alone is not diagnostic of CP. 38 Consequently, in a clinical context suggestive of CP, it is unclear if normal ePFT and 1 or more abnormal MRI features may reflect early or minimal-change CP. In addition, considering only qualitative MRI features may result in falsely negative MRI.…”

Pancreatic function testing

“…Several comprehensive reviews highlighting the differing methods have been published recently. 2 • 1 [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Available evidence s~ests that stimulants (secretin alone or in combination with cholecystokinin being the most widely utilized) are best administered by constant intravenous infusion at rates producing maximal secretion. 14 When overall responses are evaluated by discriminant analysis, the correct diagnosis can be made in 92% of cases 16 and patients with mild chronic pancreatitis can be differentiated from controls.…”