[Chronic painless pancreatitis. Apropos of 9 cases]

The authors report 9 cases of painless chronic pancreatitis and review the literature on this apparently rare condition. They emphasise the contrast between absent or minimal pain and the severe pathological lesions. In the light of these cases and pathological specimens, they attempt to interpret the pain during chronic pancreatitis. Pain seems to occur when there is a downhill course.