Book excerpt: Pancreaticobiliary diseases are extremely common, and all primary care staff will encounter patients with diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract. Rapid differentiation, diagnosis, treatment and/or referral to a specialist must be made to avoid serious life threatening consequences. It is therefore essential that every clinician has at least a basic understanding in this area. 'Fast Facts: Pancreas and Biliary Tract Diseases, 2nd edn' provides a clear and concise guide to diagnosis and management of these diseases. It is an invaluable resource for primary care providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical students, medical residents, interns, house physicians and all other health professionals faced with the challenge of caring for patients with diseases of the pancreas and biliary tract. Contents: • Anatomy, physiology and epidemiology • Evaluation of pancreaticobiliary diseases • Diseases of the gallbladder • Bile duct stone disease (choledocholithiasis) • Bile duct tumors • Unusual diseases of the biliary tree • Dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi complex and gallbladder Acute pancreatitis • Chronic pancreatitis • Hereditary pancreatitis • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma • Unusual tumors of the pancreas and ampulla of Vater