[Chronic pancreatitis and the neighboring organs]

The close topographic relationship between pancreas and the functional entity of the upper abdominal organs causes in about 20 percent of the patients with chronic pancreatitis alterations of the surroundings. In 531 patients compression of the common bile duct was found in 18.1%, duodenal stenosis in 17.7%, pleural thickening in 6.6%, splenic vein thrombosis in 5.1%, gastric outlet obstruction in 3.2% and colonic stenosis in 0.4%. In primary asymptomatic chronic pancreatitis these local complications may be the first hint to pancreatic disorders. Occasionally these changes demand operative interventions or alleviate the decision for resectional therapy.