[The classification of chronic pancreatitis]

To make the II Marseilles Classification of Pancreatitis more applicable to everyday clinical practice, a new systemic approach is suggested basing on clinical, laboratory, CT and ultrasound evidence. Upon examination of 182 chronic sufferers with pancreatitis, interstitial--edematous, parenchymatous, fibrous--sclerotic (indurative), hyperplastic (pseudotumorous) and cystic variants of the disease were established in 34.6%, 30%, 21.1%, 4.4% and 9.9%, respectively. Clinical features typical for each variant of the disease and most common complications are reviewed.