Endoscopic therapy of pancreatic strictures.

Over the past decade, endoscopic therapy has been increasingly used as a less invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of pancreatic duct strictures. The therapeutic goal has been the palliative relief of severe pain associated with chronic pancreatitis. Studies from several centers have shown that endoscopic stenting results in pain relief for a high percentage of patients. Future investigation needs to focus on the refinement and standardization of basic techniques, and different strategies need to be compared in well-designed trials.