A prospective study of radiation induced damage of pancreatic ducts.

ABSTRACT

To study radiation-induced pancreatic duct damage, endoscopic retrograde pancreatograms of 11 patients with primary gastric lymphoma who had completed chemotherapy and moderate dose external radiation therapy were compared with those of 22 normal subjects. No significant alteration was seen in the length and caliber of the main pancreatic duct and number of side branches. Clubbing of one or two side branches was observed in four patients who had received radiation (p = ns). We conclude that significant structural changes do not develop in the pancreas following moderate dose upper abdominal radiation.