Studies on the retrograde pancreatography in autopsy specimens

In order to study the normal and aged anatomical structure of the duct system of human pancreas, retrograde pancreatography was performed. Pancreas from 33 cadavers of non-pancreatic disease, aged from 0 to 81 years, was examined. Silicone rubber was injected through the canal of Wirsung, radiographs were taken, and microstereoscopic observation was done after clearing in methyl salicylate. The main duct tapered gradually toward the tail, branching off about 56 second term ducts at a regular interval. The eighth term branch became the centroacinar ductules in the peripheral region, and the fourth and fifth term branch did it in the proximal region. In aged cases, prominently over 60 years, the main duct became large in caliber and showed irregular dilatation and narrowing like beads. The second term ducts were visualized as irregular patterns. The figure of distortions like a corkscrew was also seen in smaller ductules of the aged cases over 50 years. The histological findings of these sites were not the pancreatitic lesions but only the increase of fibrous tissues and decrease of a cellular component in the ductal wall itself.