OOPs I was Wrong!

[Guest guest]

It seems that there are some surgeons who do use the terms

small duct disease and large duct disease to denote the

condition of the major ducts.

Here is a quote from a paper on discussing the long term effects

of surgery for CP

" Three unique situations will be addressed: 1) small duct

pancreatitis (main pancreatic duct <5mm), 2) large duct CP

(main duct diameter >7mm) and 3) inflammatory mass in the

head of the gland. "

But here is another paper that defines small duct and large duct

disease in the close to the way I presented it in the previous

post:

" Big duct disease is the presence of significant structural

abnormalities of the pancreas and particularly dilation fo the

main pancreatic duct and is a marker of advanced CP,

particularly alcohol induced. Small duct disease implies the

absence of these advanced structural abnormalities. This

differentiation is useful in that those with big duct disease are

easiest to diagnose, are usually alcoholic and are candidates

primarily for endoscopic or surgical therapy. Those with small

duct disease are much more difficult to diagnose, are more likely

idiopathic and are candidates primarily for medical therapy. "

I will try to find more exact definitions in the next few hours or

days.

laurie