Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the pancreas characterized by progressive parenchyma destruction, resulting in pain and exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. In the advanced stages the diagnosis by imaging is usually straightforward, while in the early phases of the disease there can be a paucity of findings at imaging, thus making an early diagnosis challenging. Different imaging modalities can have a role in the initial diagnosis and in the longitudinal follow-up of patients affected by chronic pancreatitis, also enabling to assess the complications of the disease. Radiography, Ultrasonography, CT and MRI can all provide morphological information, and MRI with the administration of secretin can also provide functional information. The use of an appropriate technique is fundamental for optimizing the examination to the clinical question.

中文翻译：

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慢性胰腺炎的最佳成像。

慢性胰腺炎是以胰腺进行性实质破坏为特征的胰腺炎性过程，导致疼痛以及外分泌和内分泌功能不全。在晚期阶段，影像学诊断通常很简单，而在疾病的早期阶段，影像学检查可能很少，因此对早期诊断提出了挑战。在受慢性胰腺炎影响的患者的初步诊断和纵向随访中，不同的影像学检查方式可能会起作用，还可以评估疾病的并发症。放射线照相，超声检查，CT和MRI均可提供形态学信息，而使用促胰液素的MRI也可提供功能信息。