Endoscopy of the pancreatic duct: value of different endoscope types.
Diagnostic pancreatoscopy was performed in 38 patients with suspected lesions by means of an endoscopic retrograde approach using two different endoscope types. A 3.1-mm endoscope, which required sphincterotomy, and an 0.8-mm ultra-thin pancreatoscope, which could be passed through a standard catheter into the pancreatic duct, were used. Both endoscope types were effective in detecting and differentiating pancreatic lesions. The advantage of the 3.1-mm pancreatosope is its ability to take biopsy specimens, thus allowing histologic verification of observations. The ultra-thin endoscope may play a role in the initial duct examination.
Department of Gastroenterology, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
J F
JF
Riemann
B
B
Kohler
D001706:Biopsy; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic