[Clinico-morphological correlations of chronic pseudotumorous pancreatitis and cancer of the pancreas]

Abstract

Examination of 57 pancreatic cancer patients and 40 subjects with chronic pseudotumorous pancreatitis revealed a resemblance in the clinical picture and uniform changes in the blood levels of pancreatic enzymes in both groups. Histological examination of 32 patients who expired from pancreatic cancer revealed total chronic pancreatitis manifested in inflammatory infiltration, focal destruction of the duct epithelium, atrophy, interstitial, periductular and perivascular sclerosis, dilatation of the ducts and pancreolithiasis. The character of the morphological changes in patients with pancreatic cancer corresponds to both primary and secondary origin of pancreatitis. Similarity of clinical manifestations and uniform changes in the blood content of pancreatic enzymes could be explained by the presence of chronic pancreatitis concurrent to pancreatic cancer.