Relationship between the morphologic appearance of pancreatic calculi and pancreatic function in chronic calcifying...

The relationship between the two types of pancreatic calculi and their clinical pictures was studied in seven cases of diffuse minute calculi and 12 cases of large calculi. In the large calculi cases, the cause was often unknown, the calculi tended to be localized in the head and body and disturbances in pancreatic exocrine and endocrine functions were frequently found to be mild. In the diffuse minute calculi cases, alcohol ingestion was apparently responsible, the calculi tended to be distributed not only over the head and body but also over the tail and the pancreatic exocrine and endocrine function were markedly decreased with repetition of acute exacerbation. Consequently, the two types were clearly distinguished, indicating marked differences in pathophysiological process; they cannot be regarded as a single disease entity.