Pancreatic duct stenting as a treatment for hereditary pancreatitis

Hereditary pancreatitis is a genetically transmitted condition usually pres enting in childhood or adolescence. The natural history of the condition is that recurrent episodes of pancreatitis may be followed by the development of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine failure. Treatment options are limite d, usually consisting of surgical drainage procedures whose efficacy is unc ertain and whose effect on disease progression is unknown. We report a chil d with hereditary pancreatitis treated by means of a pancreatic duct stent placed via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanctreatography resulting in lon gterm control of symptoms and speculate that earlier intervention may alter the disease course.