Etiopathogenesis and definition of chronic pancreatitis.

This is a critical review of papers published on definition, classification, etiology, and pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis from 1981 to 1985. Articles published earlier will only be mentioned when they are necessary to the understanding of the present knowledge or when they are insufficiently known. The more ancient literature has been reviewed elsewhere. The etiology and pathogenesis section will be limited to calcifying pancreatitis which is the most frequent form of chronic pancreatitis. The etiology of chronic obstructive pancreatitis has been studied in another review. The simple fibrosis of the pancreas is excluded from this chapter.