Morphological and crystal chemical characteristic of panсreatic lithiasis

Introduction: Information on chemical and phase composition of pancreoliths is limited and discrepant. There are reports, that pancreoliths are composed by calcium, phosphate, calcium carbonate or combination of calcium with fatty acids The aim of the work is studying of structural characteristics of pancreatoliths in 5 clinical cases.

Materials and methods: Morphological and crystal-chemical study of five cases of pathological biomineralization in the pancreas were conducted in the work.

Results: Two stones were located in the pancreatic duct, in other cases - in the ductal system of pancreas. Concretion sizes ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter. Pancreatic lithiasis' form depended on the location: in the duct of Wirsung single concretions were found (they were relatively large, oval stones with smooth, regular edges); multiple, small concretions with irregular edges, coral-like stones dominated in the ductal system of pancreas. Histological study of pancreas showed the signs of chronic pancreatitis, tissue fibrosis, atrophy and edema of glandular component, system distension of ducts, nidal mix-cell inflammatory infiltrates, vessels' plethora. Structural phase and chemical analysis of pathological biominerals responded calcite in all studied cases.

Conclusion: The presence of pancreatic lithiasis was found to be accompanied by significant morphological changes of the pancreas. The pancreatolith crystal phase was established to be calcium carbonate in the form of calcite.