Gallstones are well known to cause acute pancreatitis. However, the role of gallstone disease in the causation of chronic pancreatitis is still controversial. Abnormalities of the pancreatic duct have been noted in about one-half of patients with calculous biliary disease undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but despite this, it is generally believed that gallstones rarely, if ever, cause chronic pancreatitis. The clinical significance and the natural history of the pancreatographic changes seen in patients with gallstone disease is not known. Studies of the pancreatic functions and long-term follow-up of patients with calculous biliary disease, especially those who have abnormal pancreatograms, and the effect of removal of the gallstone on the pancreatographic abnormalities and pancreatic functions are needed to clarify the issue.
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