Imaging Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis

Because examinations of pancreatic exocrine function have been difficult to perform in Japan, the importance of imaging diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis has been increasing. Therefore, the findings of US, CT, MRI, EUS and ERP have great weight with the new clinical diagnostic criteria of chronic pancreatitis. In the new criteria, chronic pancreatitis can be diagnosed as "definite chronic pancreatitis", only with one or more findings of "specific image of chronic pancreatitis". Consequently, the findings of "specific image of chronic pancreatitis" are determined strictly. The clinical value of the new diagnostic criteria of chronic pancreatitis should be evaluated in many hospitals with many patients with several stages of chronic pancreatitis in the near future.