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. 1976 Nov 27;2(6047):1307–1309. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6047.1307

Rational sequence of tests for pancreatic function.

C J Mitchell, E Elias, J E Agnew, J Summerfield, R Dick
PMCID: PMC1690021  PMID: 1000205

Abstract

Of 144 patients with suspected pancreatic disease in whom a 75Se-selenomethionine scan was performed, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) was successful in 108 (75%). The final diagnosis is known in 100 patients and has been compared with scan and ERP findings. A normal scan reliably indicated a normal pancreas, but the scan was falsely abnormal in 30%. ERP distinguished between carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis in 84% of cases but was falsely normal in five patients with pancreatic disease. In extrahepatic biliary disease both tests tended to give falsely abnormal results. A sequence of tests to provide a rapid and reliable assessment of pancreatic function should be a radio-isotope scan, followed by ERP if the results of the scan are abnormal, and a Lundh test if the scan is abnormal but the findings on ERP are normal.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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