Chronic Pancreatitis

5 Interesting Facts of Chronic Pancreatitis

1. Pancreatic damage due to recurrent or persistent inflammation and progressive fibrosis, resulting in loss of both exocrine and endocrine function
2. Like nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, may present with nonspecific symptoms (eg, abdominal pain, anorexia, weight loss)
3. Unlike pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, often associated with steatorrhea
4. Common in patients with chronic alcoholism
5. Differentiated on basis of laboratory tests and characteristic findings on diagnostic imaging