Nonsurgical treatment for asymptomatic pancreatolithiasis is meaning: A case report

Many guidelines for nonsurgical treatment of pancreatolithiasis suggest little guidance for patients with pancreatolithiasis who do not have abdominal pain. Some patients with pancreatolithiasis whom we have treated nonsurgically with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy did not have abdominal pain, and we describe one of them here.

A 42-year-old man complaining of an 8-kg weight loss over 6 months was admitted to a nearby hospital, where fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c values were 500 mg/dL and 11.8%. Computed tomography showed stones in the head of the pancreas and dilation of the main pancreatic duct. He was referred to our hospital to be considered for nonsurgical treatment of pancreatolithiasis. His height and weight were 160 cm and 52 kg (body mass index, 20.31). No tenderness or other abdominal findings were evident. After obtaining informed consent for nonsurgical treatment despite absence of abdominal pain, we performed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Computed tomography showed disappearance of stones from the pancreatic head. At discharge, his weight had increased to 62 kg and hemoglobin A1c was 6.8%, though antidiabetic medication has since become necessary.

We believe that nonsurgical treatment of pancreatolithiasis was helpful for this patient, and could improve exocrine and endocrine function in other patients without abdominal pain.