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Previous Volume 336:286-287 January 23, 1997 Number 4 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Almost 100 years ago, Opie postulated that a gallstone transiently obstructing the ampulla of Vater — the channel where the bile duct and pancreatic duct meet — could precipitate pancreatitis.¹ At least half of all cases of pancreatitis are due to the passage of gallstones; we know this because stones are found in the bile ducts and stools of the affected patients.² When alcohol consumption, trauma, certain metabolic abnormalities, tumors, and a host of rare causes, from ischemia to ascariasis, are ruled out, gallstones are the number-one suspect worldwide.³

There is little doubt about the diagnosis of biliary pancreatitis when . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Baron, T. H., Morgan, D. E. (1999). Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis. NEJM 340: 1412-1417 [Full Text]  
• Mergener, K., Baillie, J. (1999). The Role of ERCP in Gallstone Pancreatitis: Mergener K, Baillie J The Role of ERCP in Gallstone Pancreatitis J Intensive Care Med 1999,14 74-85. J Intensive Care Med 14: 74-85  
• Mergener, K., Baillie, J. (1998). Fortnightly review : Acute pancreatitis. BMJ 316: 44-48 [Full Text]  
• (1997). EARLY ERCP FOR ACUTE BILIARY PANCREATITIS?. JWatch General 1997: 3-3 [Full Text]