The Exocrine Pancreas: Biology, Pathobiology, and Diseases

Abstract

Until now, the pancreas has received only honorable mention in the comprehensive textbooks of gastroenterology. The 900 oversized pages devoted to the understanding of this organ allow larger print as well as outstanding diagrams, graphs, photomicrographs, and images. The use of color is limited to two pages. The six editors have collected the contributions of 86 internationally recognized experts in all fields related to the pancreas. This volume is really two books in one. Almost equally divided, the first half deals with the basic science and experimental aspects of anatomy, exocrine secretion, neurohormonal control, and digestion. The second half deals with the clinical aspects of pancreatic diseases and their pathophysiology and management. A sampling of the clinical material reveals one major omission—a chapter on the medical management of acute pancreatitis. The one-paragraph discussion of the management of acute pancreatitis is hidden in the chapter entitled "Ethanol and the Pancreas." Although