title: Chronic relapsing pancreatitis in childhood.
abstract: We report 10 children with chronic relapsing pancreatitis. These patients can be divided into three groups, based on their clinical history, manifestations, and radiographic findings. Group 1 includes four patients with hereditary pancreatitis; these patients have had recurrent abdominal pain since early childhood, and have a positive family history for pancreatitis. Group 2 includes two patients with clinical and radiographic findings similar to those in patients with hereditary pancreatitis but without a family history of pancreatitis. Group 3 includes four patients with fibrosing pancreatitis who had symptoms and signs of obstructive jaundice. Our report emphasizes three points: (1) that chronic pancreatitis does occur in young children and is most commonly caused by hereditary pancreatitis or fibrosing pancreatitis; (2) that endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatiography is a safe and valuable tool for the study of pancreatic and common bile ducts; and (3) that surgical intervention is indicated to drain the pancreatic duct in patients with hereditary pancreatitis, and sphincterotomy is an effective therapy for patients with fibrosing pancreatitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence