Hereditary Pancreatitis

Abstract

A kindred exhibited hereditary pancreatitis. In this disease, the age of onset is generally in the 10- to 15-year range; the disease may be any degree of severity. Biliary calculi are extremely rare. There has been an increased occurrence of malignant pancreatic tumors in the families. Twenty percent have required operative treatment, and study of the families leads to the conclusion that surgery in the future should be performed earlier than in the past.