[Cavity effusions in patients with chronic pancreatitis]

In Brazil, the incidence of IPF due to alcohol-induced CP seems to be higher than in other countries. The authors analysed some general, epidemiologic, laboratory and radiologic features in 98 patients with CP, all of them alcoholics, divided in two groups: 49 patients without IPF (I) and 49 patients with IPF (II). The authors first analysed the following parameters in each group and then comparatively in both groups: age, sex, race, smokers and daily consumption of cigarettes, daily consumption of alcoholic beverages, years of alcohol consumption, and mortality. The authors concluded that pancreatic fistula plays in effusions the main role, secondary to cysts disruption or necrosis of the main pancreatic duct.