[Clinicopathological profile of pancreatic lithiasis (author's transl)]

Clinical, radiological and histopathological features of 31 duodenopancreatectomies for chronic pancreatitis with lithiasis are analysed in relation to whether or not there was dilatation of the duct of Wirsung. Two groups of patients may be defined in the basis of this criterion: -- the first, without dilatation of the duct of Wirsung, with lithiasis predominantly affecting the head of the pancreas and irregular fibrosis, corresponding patients aged approximately 30 years, suffering from the disease for about 10 years, often already operated upon for pancreatitis; gastrointestinal bleeding is common; -- the second, with dilatation of the duct of Wirsung, with disseminated lithiasis, and very marked fibrosis, affecting patients aged over 50 years, suffering from the disease for less than 5 years and not yet operated upon for their pancreatitis. The problem of the independance of the two groups or of the possibility of progression of forms without dilatation of the duct of Wirsung to dilated forms remains.