Chronic pancreatitis

S Majumder, ST Chari - The Lancet, 2016 - thelancet.com
The Lancet, 2016thelancet.com
Chronic pancreatitis describes a wide spectrum of fibro-inflammatory disorders of the
exocrine pancreas that includes calcifying, obstructive, and steroid-responsive forms. Use of
the term chronic pancreatitis without qualification generally refers to calcifying chronic
pancreatitis. Epidemiology is poorly defined, but incidence worldwide seems to be on the
rise. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and genetic predisposition are the major risk factors for
chronic calcifying pancreatitis. In this Seminar, we discuss the clinical features, diagnosis …
Summary
Chronic pancreatitis describes a wide spectrum of fibro-inflammatory disorders of the exocrine pancreas that includes calcifying, obstructive, and steroid-responsive forms. Use of the term chronic pancreatitis without qualification generally refers to calcifying chronic pancreatitis. Epidemiology is poorly defined, but incidence worldwide seems to be on the rise. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and genetic predisposition are the major risk factors for chronic calcifying pancreatitis. In this Seminar, we discuss the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of chronic calcifying pancreatitis, focusing on pain management, the role of endoscopic and surgical intervention, and the use of pancreatic enzyme-replacement therapy. Management of patients is often challenging and necessitates a multidisciplinary approach.
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