Published online Dec 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.i4.243
Revised: March 9, 1996
Accepted: March 20, 1996
Published online: December 15, 1996
AIM: To study the pathological changes in the pancreas of acute fulminant pancreatitis patients suffering from sudden death.
METHODS: Pancreatic duct specimens taken at autopsy from 30 patients with acute fulminant pancreatitis were examined under a light microscope for histopathological changes, with those of 30 other patients who died of other diseases as controls.
RESULTS: Among the 30 cases of acute fulminant pancreatitis, 29 (96.7%) were non-inflammatory including hemorrhagic necrotic type (2 cases) and one were inflammatory. The pathological findings showed that all the above types had pancreatic ductal changes, including the accumulation of shed ductal epithelial cells, eosinophilic materials in the ductal lumen and the presence of ductules in the wall of the pancreatic duct. In the control group, except for 1 case presenting ductules, there were no other changes observed.
CONCLUSION: Abnormal structural changes can cause damage to the ductal system of the pancreas, leading to an escape of activated proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes into the interstitial tissues and resulting in edema, ischemia, hemorrhage, necrosis and development of acute fulminant pancreatitis, which is an important cause of sudden death.