[The differentaition between malignant and benign lesions by retrograde pancreaticography]

The accuracy of ERCP in the differentiation between carcinoma of the pancreas and chronic pancreatitis is evaluated in a series of 39 cases with proved final diagnosis. The specificity of 6 different morphological types of duct alterations for carcinoma or for chronic pacreatitis is analyzed. - The accuracy of differentiation was 90% in the present series. Long, irregular stenosis or localized destruction of ductal branches were found in carcinoma only. Short, smooth stenosis or diffuse duct alterations were present in pancreatitis only. Total obstruction was found in both diseases in about the same frequency.