There is a need for a comprehensive clinical textbook on disease of the pancreas. Although management of pancreatic disorders on the whole tends to be handled by the surgeons, there is now a considerable and vital input by medical Gastroenterolgists, Endoscopists, Pathologists and Oncologists. In the past decade, extraordinary developments in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology and endoscopy have been coupled with major advances in surgical techniques and basic sciences. Surprisingly, for one of the major organs of the body, there is no current textbook which adequately fulfils the requirements for practicing clinicians dealing with pancreatic disease. This book is edited by six leading international experts from the U. K. , Germany and the USA. The editors have assembled an international team of 98 contributing authors, all of whom have been given a protocol for their chapter to ensure tight editorial control and uniformity of style. The emphasis is very much on providing clear guidance for the practicing clinician. The book is divided into 14 sections, containing over 140 chapters, each section is guided by a section editor. The text describes in detail the anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of all know pancreatic disorders. The text is completed by line drawings, radiographs and over 1,000 full colour illustrations, providing a step-by-step approach to endoscopic procedures. This book should become the standard reference work for all those involved in the management of pancreatic disorders, including surgeons, gastroenterologists, oncologists and radiologists.