Management of chronic pancreatitis with an inflammatory mass

Pancreatic head enlargement caused by an inflammatory mass occurs in a number of patients with chronic pancreatitis. It leads to complications such as duodenal obstruction, common bile duct obstruction, pancreatic duct obstruction, and obstruction of the retropancreatic vessels, all of which require surgical treatment. This chapter discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical treatment options (drainage, classical resection, organ-preserving resection) used to manage an inflammatory mass in the pancreatic head region.