Tissue samples from seven patients with chronic pancreatitis were studied by light and
electron microscopy, using samples from the pancreas of seven organ donors as a
reference group. Tubular complexes were observed in four of the patients with chronic
pancreatitis. Tubular complexes, which have been interpreted as resulting from “ductular
reduplication” in other studies of chronic pancreatitis, and “ductular proliferation” in studies
of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, were studied carefully to determine their origin. Extensive …