PANCREATIC LITHIASIS ASSOCIATED WITH PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY AND DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Pancreatic lithiasis is a relatively rare pathologic entity. A careful study of the literature published before 1939 reveals a total of approximately 125 reported cases of the disease. According to Witherspoon,¹ until 1935 operation had been performed in only 28 cases and in but 4 of these had a diagnosis been made prior to operation. It was our privilege to observe 2 patients with this disease who were admitted to the medical service of the Cincinnati General Hospital within the period of one month. The condition of the first patient was diagnosed during life and that of the second at autopsy. In the first case we were able to confirm the diagnosis by demonstrating a definite lack of pancreatic enzymes both in the duodenal fluid and in the feces. In addition to the usual management of a diabetic patient, we administered rather large amounts of a potent preparation of