X-ray diffraction studies of pancreatic calculi associated with nutritional pancreatitis

The composition of pancreatic calculi in patients with tropical pancreatitis is unknown. At present, except for malnutrition, there are no known etiologic factors for chronic calcific pancreatitis in the tropics. We report the results of an x-ray diffraction study of 41 stones from 26 patients obtained at autopsy in the Kerala state in India. Calcite was present in all stones, vaterite in 12%, and a central amorphous material in 30%. The latter may be analogous to the protein plugs as nuclei for stones described by Sarles et al in patients with alcoholic pancreatitis.