Preface

Pancreatitis is a common disease of the digestive system and one of the most common causes of death. Until relatively recently, pancreatitis has been extremely difficult to study and treat, and many problems of pancreatitis have not been clarified. The correct diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis at an early stage is difficult, and end-stage chronic pancreatitis or acute pancreatitis with extensive necrosis of the gland is tricky to treat. Within the past decade, revolutionary techniques in molecular biology and minimally invasive treatment have begun to give us dramatic new clinical tools for diagnosing and treating pancreatic disease. This book provides a comprehensive discussion of the anatomy and physiology of the pancreas, acute and chronic pancreatitis, and minimally invasive treatment in pancreatitis. It is hoped that this book will provide evidence for clinicians to make clinical decisions and provide scientists with a comprehensive overview of the current developments in this critically important area.

> **Qiang Yan** Department of General Surgery, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Huzhou Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China

Section 1
