A Study of Exocrine Pancreatic Function by Pancreatic Function Diagnostant (PFD) on Cancer of Pancreas and Biliary Tract

Since 1976, the authors administered the test meal PFD to patients mainly with pancreatic diseases in order to know the changes in the exocrine function of the remaining part of the pancreas. In the present study, investigation was made on the usefulness of PFD in the cases undergoing surgery for pancreatic and biliary cancers, according to the sites of cancers. Urinary PABA in 6-hour urine showed low levels in the cases of pancreatic head cancers and ampullary cancers, and their excretion patterns showed a delayed excretion type in the cases other than extrapancreatic biliary cancers. In the resectable cases, the 6-hour urine level of PABA was significantly improved within 12 months of surgery compared with that before surgery (p<0.01). Their excretion patterns showed the high peak levels in 2 hours and decreased sharply thereafter. When the PFD is administered out, it seems to be useful for the analysis of the excretion patterns as well as 6-hour urine levels in order to predict the conditions the pancreas duct and the recovery of the pancreatic exocrine function.