[Is anomalous junction of pancreaticobiliary duct related to pancreatitis].

Among 1779 patients was subjected to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), an anomalous junction of pancreaticobiliary duct (AJPB) was found in 48 (AJPB group), a normal common channel was found in 734 (control group A), and a non-common channel was found in 284 (control group B). Another 713 patients were excluded because the pancreaticobiliary duct was not clear. In AJPB group, the length of the common channel ranged from 15 to 35mm (17.9 +/- 5.06mm). 16 patients were of P-B type and 32 patients B-P type. As to pancreatitis there were 21 patients in AJPB group, 48 in control group A and 22 in control group B. As to acute pancreatitis (AP) there were 4 patients in AJPB group, 9 patients in control group A and 4 patients in control group B. In AJPB group, there were 13 P-B type patients and 8 B-P type patients with pancreatitis. The incidence of pancreatitis in AJPB group was larger than that in control group A or B (P < 0.01), and in AJPB group, the incidence of pancreatitis of B-P type was less than that of P-B type (P < 0.01). The results showed that AJPB is related to pancreatitis. We consider that AJPB is an anatomic factor inducing pancreatitis. The pancreatic ductal high pressure may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis caused by AJPB.