Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with pancreatic disease

EMPHASIS in the literature of retroperitoneal fibrosis is rightly directed towards the urinary tract as this is where its most serious effects are produced (Raper, 1956; Talbot & Mahoney, 1957). Gastro-intestinal symptoms may characterize the early stage of the illness and a gastro-intestinal tract origin cannot be excluded (Ormond, 1965). In addition, the duodenum, pancreas, mesenteric root, small and large bowel may be involved by the fibrosis (Paull, Causey & Hodges, 1955). Our studies on a total of fifteen patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis have indicated that the benign and malignant forms are difficult to distinguish. In two patients, the fibrosis was clearly associated with pancreatic lesions one benign and the other malignant-and each demonstrates the usual problems in diagnosis and management (Hume, Erb & Stevens, 1963).