Chronic Pancreatitis: Etiology, Diagnosis And Treatment

AIM: To investigate the associated factors, diagnosis and treatment of chronic pancreatitis in China.METHODS: 1700 patients with confirmed chronic pancreatitis in 21 hospitals of china were retrospectively studied, including investigating their associated etiological factors, diagnostic and therapeutic methods.RESULTS: Of all the 1700 patients, there were 601 with alcoholic pancreatitis and 576 with biliary chronic pancreatitis, which accounted for 35.4% and 33.9% respectively. The rest included idiopathic chronic pancreatitis and abnormity of pancreatic duct.The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis was abdominal pain. A few patients accompanied by steatorrhoea and decrease body weight. 239 patients were diagnosed by histopathology. Others were diagnosed by imaging procedures. Most patients suffered less after non-operation therapies.CONCLUSION: In China,heavy alcohol drinking had been the most common etiological factors of chronic pancreatitis. Imaging procedures play the most important role in diagnosis, and non-operation therapies were the main methods to treat chronic pancreatitis.