title: Chronic Pancreatitis.
abstract: Chronic pancreatitis is a debilitating condition often associated with severe abdominal pain and exocrine and endocrine dysfunction. The underlying cause is multifactorial and involves complex interaction of environmental, genetic, and/or other risk factors. The pathology is dependent on the underlying pathogenesis of the disease. This review describes the clinical, gross, and microscopic findings of the main subtypes of chronic pancreatitis: alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, obstructive chronic pancreatitis, paraduodenal ("groove") pancreatitis, pancreatic divisum, autoimmune pancreatitis, and genetic factors associated with chronic pancreatitis. As pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma may be confused with chronic pancreatitis, the main distinguishing features between these 2 diseases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stram
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: singhiad@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Aatur D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Singhi
mesh_terms: D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts; D010192:Pancreatic Pseudocyst / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Alcohol; Autoimmune; Etiology; Hereditary; Obstruction; Pancreas; Paraduodenal; Pathology