Discriminant analysis in the clinical and biochemical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

In order to assess the value of clinical data and biochemical markers, both singly and in combination, in distinguishing pancreatic malignancy from chronic pancreatitis and extrapancreatic diseases, 99 subjects were studied by means of stepwise discriminant analysis. The best discriminating clinical variables were presence and onset of pain attacks, history of alcohol abuse and age; ribonuclease was the best biochemical. The clinical data alone was of great value in correctly classifying chronic pancreatitis patients. The addition of the biochemical data did not enhance the correct allocation of subjects with chronic pancreatic disease. The results indicate that the detection of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis, by means of the currently available serum markers, is not accurate, and attest to the importance of recording simple clinical data when attempting to provide a correct diagnosis.