Korean Journal of Pancreas and Biliary Tract  2017;22(2):57-62

doi:10.15279/kpba.2017.22.2.57

Etiology and Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis.

Hyoung Woo KIM 1 ; Jaihwan KIM

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Pancreatitis; chronic; Etiology; Diagnosis

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis is an irreversible inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterized by progressive inflammation and fibrosis resulting in loss of exocrine and endocrine function. Chronic pancreatitis is a wide spectrum of fibro-inflammatory disorders of the pancreas that includes calcifying, obstructive, and steroid-responsive form. Chronic pancreatitis without specific comment generally refers to calcifying or obstructive chronic pancreatitis. The well-known traditional causes of chronic pancreatitis are alcohol and smoking. Recently, environmental effects and the importance of genes such as genetic variation or interaction have been highlighted. Computerized tomography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography have been used for diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. However, endoscopic ultrasound has been recently used for diagnosis, too.