Inter- and intra-observer variability of computed tomography-based parenchymal- and ductal diameters in chronic pancreatitis: a multi-observer international study.

Purpose: The need for incorporation of quantitative imaging biomarkers of pancreatic parenchymal and ductal structures has been highlighted in recent proposals for new scoring systems in chronic pancreatitis (CP). To quantify inter- and intra-observer variability in CT-based measurements of ductal- and gland diameters in CP patients.

Materials And Methods: Prospectively acquired pancreatic CT examinations from 50 CP patients were reviewed by 12 radiologists and four pancreatologists from 10 institutions.

Exocrine pancreas insufficiency in chronic pancreatitis - Risk factors and associations with complications. A multicentre study of 1869 patients.

Background/objectives: There is scarce information about risk factors for exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI) in chronic pancreatitis (CP), and how it associates with other complications. The aim of the present study was to examine risk factors for EPI and associations to procedures and other CP related complications in a large, Northern European cohort.

Patients And Methods: We retrieved cross-sectional data on demographics, status on EPI, aetiological risk factors for CP, CP related complications as well as surgical and endoscopic treatment from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club Database.

Patient reported exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse are associated with pain and other complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Background/objectives: Smoking and alcohol abuse are established risk factors for chronic pancreatitis (CP). Few studies have examined how exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse act as risk factors for complications in CP. Our aim was to examine associations between patient reported exposure to smoking and alcohol abuse and complications in CP in a large cohort of patients from the Scandinavian and Baltic countries.

Multiple risk factors for diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic pancreatitis: A multicentre study of 1117 cases.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common complication of chronic pancreatitis. It is traditionally considered to develop as a consequence of beta cell loss, but there might be additional factors. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of type 2 diabetes-related risk factors in this context and population-based studies show increased risk of diabetes following acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatic calcifications associate with diverse aetiological risk factors in patients with chronic pancreatitis: A multicentre study of 1500 cases.

Background: Pancreatic calcifications is a common finding in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), but the underlying pathophysiology is incompletely understood. Past studies for risk factors of calcifications have generally been focused on single parameters or limited by small sample sizes. The aim of this study was to explore several patient and disease characteristics and their associations with pancreatic calcifications in a large cohort of CP patients with diverse aetiological risk factors.

Association of multiple patient and disease characteristics with the presence and type of pain in chronic pancreatitis.

Background And Aim: Pain is the primary symptom of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and associates with a number of patient and disease characteristics. However, the complex interrelations of these parameters are incompletely understood, and pain treatment remains unsatisfactory in a large proportion of patients. The aim of this study is to investigate multiple pain risk factors in a large population of CP patients, with a special emphasis on patients' patterns of smoking and alcohol use.

Chronic Pancreatitis Is Characterized by Distinct Complication Clusters That Associate With Etiological Risk Factors.

Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by several disease-related complications and multiple etiological risk factors. Past studies of associations between complications and risk factors have mostly been limited to single complications or highly focused on single etiologies. Using an objective data-driven approach (cluster analysis), we characterized complication clusters and their associations with etiological risk factors in a large cohort of patients with CP.

Reliability and validity of the new VikingSlice software for computed tomography body composition analysis.

Background/objectives: Body composition assessment by computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in various patient groups. This study aimed to compare the reliability and validity of a newly in-house developed segmentation software VikingSlice against a commercial software (SliceOMatic) for quantification of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle cross-sectional areas (CSA).

Subjects/methods: Fifty abdominal CT sets from chronic pancreatitis patients were analyzed (mean age 49, range 27-84 years; 38 males).

The Scandinavian baltic pancreatic club (SBPC) database: design, rationale and characterisation of the study cohort.

Objectives: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a multifaceted disease associated with several risk factors and a complex clinical presentation. We established the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club (SBPC) Database to characterise and study the natural history of CP in a Northern European cohort. Here, we describe the design of the database and characteristics of the study cohort.