Histological Examination

Abstract

A definite histological finding is as follows: the pancreatic parenchyma shows destruction and there is fibrosis in the interlobular area with a nodular/cirrhosis-like pattern. A probable histological finding is destruction of the pancreatic parenchyma with fibrosis in the interlobular or inter-and intralobular areas. However, interlobular fibrosis alone was not adopted for the definite criteria, but belongs to the probable criteria, because a nodular or cirrhosis-like pattern is necessary. Although inter-and intralobular fibrosis is a characteristic of obstructive pancreatitis, it is only a probable histological finding in cases with patchy distribution. We should not make a diagnosis of "chronic pancreatitis" only because there is no carcinoma in the resected specimen. Hence, the clinical diagnostic criteria for chronic pancreatitis 2009 were composed more briefly and definitely than the former criteria.