Diabetes mellitus, pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic calcific pancreatitis revisited

The prevalence of chronic calcific pancreatitis (CCP) was determined in 25 successive patients with both diabetes mellitus and newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. Twenty patients (80%) were alcoholics and all were black. Of these, 9 (45%) had CCP. In only 3 of these 9 patients was the history compatible with the condition diagnosed. Clinical steatorrhoea was absent in the patients with CCP. Pulmonary tuberculosis was extensive with major involvement of three or more lung zones in 36% of patients. Mainly basal involvement of the lungs was present in 8% of patients.