Background: Over 90% of pancreatic stones are radiopaque and can be treated with endoscopy or surgery. However, radiolucent stones are different than radiopaque stones in nature and formation, and therefore, treatment varies.Case presentation: A 25-year-old woman was admitted because of recurrent acute pancreatitis. Imaging examinations confirmed the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP), and which revealed the existence of radiolucent stones. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed and abundant protein-like radiolucent stones were extracted. Three 10F, 7-cm plastic stents were placed. However, the stents were completely occluded by radiolucent stones 1 month later. A nasopancreatic tube was then inserted and flushed regularly, but protein-like stones formed continuously. After multidisciplinary consultation, the following conservative treatment strategy was applied: 1) no more endotherapy; 2) a diet with 40% to 50% of calories from fat was recommended; 3) no pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy; and 4) regular exercise. The above advice aimed to stimulate the secretion of pancreatic fluid to achieve auto-flushing of the pancreatic duct and prevent protein-like stones from depositing. No acute pancreatitis recurred during the 5-year follow-up.
Conclusions: This strategy was effective for auto-flushing the pancreatic duct in patients with radiolucent pancreatic stones after the main pancreatic duct stricture was resolved.
Keywords: Pancreatic stone; chronic pancreatitis; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; pancreatic duct stricture; pancreatic enzyme; radiolucent stone.