ABSTRACT
Gallstone pancreatitis is caused by migration of gallstones through the common bile duct and ampulla of Vater, where ohetruction or impaction may occur. Early detection and endoscopic treatment of impacted gallstones are very important for the amelieration of pancreatitis. Pancreatic imagings, such as conventional ultrasonography, computerised tomography(CT) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiypancreatography(ERCP) have beea used for the diagnosis of gallstone pancreatitis. But these imaging net are often unsatisfactory fordetection of the impacted gallstones in the common bile duct ampulla of Vater. Especially ERCP has been contraindicated in acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS), which was recently developed, has been known as highly accurate diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of biliary and pancreatic disease. The high resolution of EUS is capable of showing unique morphological detail in gallstone pancreatitis. We report 3 cases of gallstone pancreatitis which Was accurately diagnosed by EUS and successfully treated by endoscopic treatment.