DO PAROTID DUCT ABNORMALITIES OCCUR IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS

Objective: Several studies have suggested that ethanol affects the pan creas and parotid gland, We performed a prospective study to determine whether ductal lesions of ethanol-induced chronic pancreatitis occur in the parotid. Methods: Parotid sialograms were performed in 11 alcoh olic patients who had endoscopic retrograde pancreatograms. Sialograms and pancreatograms were examined in all subjects for ductal abnormali ties. Results: Seven of nine patients (77.8%) with ductal lesions of t he pancreas had coexistent ductal abnormalities of the parotid gland ( Kendall's tau = 0.578, p = 0.035), Conclusions: Chronic ethanol intake induces ductal alterations in the parotid gland similar to those seen in the pancreas. These results suggest a common histopathological eff ect of alcohol in the ductal system of the parotid gland and pancreas and raise the possibility that the parotid sialogram could be useful a s an adjunct in the diagnosis of ethanol-induced chronic pancreatitis. (C) 1998 by Am, Cell, of Gastroenterology).