title: Stent-induced pancreatic ductal and parenchymal changes: correlation of endoscopic ultrasound with ERCP.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyethylene pancreatic duct stents induce morphologic changes of the pancreatic duct in the majority of patients. This study was undertaken to determine if parenchymal abnormalities are present in patients undergoing short-term pancreatic duct stenting and to correlate these findings with the pancreatogram obtained at stent removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients underwent pancreatic duct stenting and had an endoscopic ultrasound evaluation of the pancreas at stent removal. The pancreatograms were evaluated at stent removal for ductal irregularity, narrowing, and side branch changes. Endoscopic ultrasound was used to assess for differences in the echo characteristics of the pancreatic parenchyma around the stent compared with the rest of the gland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 16 patients evaluated by ERCP at stent removal, 9 (56%) had 1 or more new ductographic changes. Endoscopic ultrasound identified parenchymal changes in the stented region in 17 of 25 patients (68%). Four patients who had parenchymal changes in the stented region on endoscopic ultrasound at stent removal had a follow-up study at a mean time of 16 months. Two patients had (new) changes suggestive of focal chronic pancreatitis in the stented region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term pancreatic duct stenting induced both ductal and parenchymal changes in more than 50% of patients. Chronic pancreatitis may be a consequence of pancreatic duct stenting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202-5000, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hawes
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Savides
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Gress
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ikenberry
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lehman
mesh_terms: D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D019160:Endosonography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*