Placement of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent in a young patient with chronic pancreatitis

Plastic stent insertion is a treatment option for pancreatic duct stricture with chronic pancreatitis. However, recurrent stricture is a limitation after removing the plastic stent. Self-expandable metal stents have long diameters and patency. A metal stent has become an established management option for pancreatic duct stricture caused by malignancy but its use in benign stricture is still controversial. We introduce a young patient who had chronic pancreatitis and underwent several plastic stent insertions due to recurrent pancreatic duct stricture. His symptoms improved after using a fully covered self-expandable metal covered stent and there was no recurrence found at follow-up at the outpatient department. (C) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.