Urinary immunoreactive trypsin excretion: a non-invasive screening test for pancreatic cancer.

The ratio of renal clearance of immunoreactive trypsin relative to renal clearance of creatinine was measured in 71 subjects including 27 controls and patients with cancer of pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and acute pancreatitis. The upper limit of the control range was 4.1 x 10(-5) (mean + 2SD). 6 of 9 patients (67%) with acute pancreatitis had raised values. All 18 patients with chronic pancreatitis had values within the control range. In contrast, all 17 patients with carcinoma of pancreas had raised clearance ratios. The test may therefore prove valuable in distinguishing between chronic pancreatitis and cancer of pancreas.