Description
Acute and chronic pancreatitis are easily diagnosed and distinguished by pathologists in most circumstances, and few other designations are necessary, or even realistic, on pathological findings alone; difficulties arise when we attempt to communicate with clinicians who have more complex classifications, based primarily on the clinical context. Understanding of the fluid-filled spaces that can complicate pancreatitis is also hampered by changing and sometimes illogical terminology. Bacteria clearly have a role, but in the vast majority of cases, only as a cause of secondary infection.
