Endosonography in patients with recent first attack of mild pancreatitis of unclear etiology

Endosography (EUS) is nowadays a method of choice in evaluation of patients with biliopancreatic diseases, leaving ERCP only for interventional procedures.

Aim: To evaluate the role of EUS as diagnostic tool in patients with mild pancreatitis of unclear etiology.

Patients and methods: 32 patients with recent first attack of mild pancreatitis of unknown origin, EUS was done 2 to 4 weeks after onset of pancreatitis, all patients with alcoholic abuse were excluded. Imaging tests were inconclusive concerning the etiology of the disease.

Results:

N=32	Cbd stones	Small gbd stones	Total
Cbd stones	8 (25%)	10 (31%)	18 (56%)
Small gbd stones		6 (19%)
Total		16 (50%)

Conclusions: CBD stones were the main cause of recent mild pancreatitis in 18 (56%) of our patients. Previous spontaneous evacuation of the stone(s) from CBD in patients with small GB stones could be the reason for attack of mild pancreatitis in 6 more patients (19%). Overall, biliary obstruction was the reason for first attack of mild pancreatitis in 75% of our patients.