Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and histopathology correlation for chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is debated as the gold standard for diagnosing and staging chronic pancreatitis (CP). The Cambridge classification grades CP on ECRP findings from normal (Grade I) to marked (Grade V). Comparison is needed with histopathology, which is considered the true gold standard to set the accuracy of any diagnostic test. A retrospective study included patients with CP who underwent ERCP and histopathology examination after surgical resection between 2001 and 2006. ERCP findings were staged according to the Cambridge classification. Thirty-one patients underwent initial diagnostic ERCP and surgical resection for chronic pancreatitis between 2001 and 2006 (61% women, 39% men). Patients with CP were diagnosed based on ERCP findings and the Cambridge classification as having normal (2 of 31 [6.5%]), equivocal (4 of 31 [13%]), mild (3 of 31 [9.7%]), moderate (15 of 31 [48%]), and marked (7 of 31 [23%]) pancreatitis. Patients experienced a mean of 5.5 ERCPs with pancreatic duct stenting before surgery and demonstrated a mean time of 25 months (range, 6 months to 3 years) between initial diagnosis and surgery. Surgeries for chronic pancreatitis included 13 (42%) subtotal pancreatectomies, 10 (32%) Whipples, and 8 (26%) distal pancreatectomies. The ERCP findings and histopathology reports correlated in 23 (74%) patients, whereas in eight (26%), findings did not correlate. The early disease group's (9 of 31 classified as normal, equivocal, or mild) ERCP findings correlated with histopathology in 6 of 9 patients (67%). Patients classified as moderate and marked had a correlation of 17 of 22 (77%). ERCP demonstrates a high correlation with pathology for assessing the severity of CP using the Cambridge classification grading system. Patients with normal, equivocal, or mild disease still represent a difficult patient subset for surgical decision-making. ERCP findings accurately predict pathology and thus should be used to help formulate the surgical plan.