CHRONIC pancreatitis is an entity characterized by recurrent episodes of pain in the upper part of the abdomen. The diagnosis is seldom considered clinically, presumably because of limited familiarity with the various manifestations of the disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the significant manifestations as observed in
20 patients and to direct attention to certain features which may be helpful in the diagnosis.
SEX AND AGE
The series comprises 12 men and 8 women. Reference to table 1 indicates that persons under 50 years of age were affected as often as those over 50. The predominance of males is in accord with other observations. Friedenwald1 noted 14 males in a group of 25 patients and Vachon2 5 in a group of 6 patients, and Comfort and others3 encountered 25 in a series of 29. The age incidence, as given in the three reports, varied.