Ventral pancreatitis in a patient with pancreas divisum

Incidence and Clinical Implications of Anatomical Variations in the Pancreas and Its Ductal System: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review analyzes the anatomical variants in the pancreas and its ductal system to report on their association with pancreatic pathologies.

METHODS

We conducted a search of the MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and LILACS databases from their inception to July 2023. The methodological quality was assessed with the Anatomical Quality Assessment (AQUA) tool. Finally, the pooled prevalence was estimated using a random effects model.

RESULTS

55 studies were found that met the eligibility criteria. The overall prevalence of pancreas divisum (PD) was 18% (95% CI = 15-21%). The prevalence of PD associated with pancreatitis was 30% (95% CI = 1-61%).

CONCLUSIONS

An anatomical variant of the pancreas such as PD may be the cause of bile duct obstruction, resulting in various clinical complications, such as pancreatitis. Hence, knowing this variant is extremely important for surgeons, especially for those who treat the gastroduodenal region.

Intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma of the pancreas associated with pancreas divisum: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Pancreas divisum, the most common congenital anomaly of the pancreas, is caused by failure of the fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic duct systems during embryological development. Although various pancreatic tumors can occur in patients with pancreas divisum, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm is rare.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because she was incidentally found to have a cystic tumor in her pancreas at a regular health checkup. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography images demonstrated a cystic tumor in the head of the pancreas measuring 40 mm in diameter with slightly enhancing mural nodules within the cyst. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography via the major duodenal papilla revealed a cystic tumor and a slightly dilated main pancreatic duct with an abrupt interruption at the head of the pancreas. The orifice of the major duodenal papilla was remarkably dilated and filled with an abundant extrusion of mucin, and the diagnosis based on pancreatic juice cytology was “highly suspicious for adenocarcinoma”. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography depicted a normal, non-dilated dorsal pancreatic duct throughout the pancreas. The patient underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy under the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with suspicion of malignancy arising in the ventral part of the pancreas divisum. A pancreatography via the major and minor duodenal papillae on the surgical specimen revealed that the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts were not connected, and the tumor originated in the ventral duct, i.e., the Wirsung’s duct. Microscopically, the tumor was diagnosed as intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma with microinvasion. In addition, marked fibrosis with acinar cell depletion was evident in the ventral pancreas, whereas no fibrotic change was noted in the dorsal pancreas.

Conclusion

Invasive ductal carcinomas of the pancreas associated with pancreas divisum usually arise from the dorsal pancreas, in which the occurrence of pancreatic cancer may link to underlying longstanding chronic pancreatitis in the dorsal pancreas; however, the histopathogenesis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in this anomaly is a critical issue that warrants further investigation in future.

The course of traumatic pancreatitis in a patient with pancreas divisum: a case report

BACKGROUND

The peculiar anatomy of pancreatic ducts in pancreas divisum (PD) may interfere with the development of acute chronic pancreatitis. In the presented case, PD influenced the evolution of lesions after pancreatic trauma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 38 years old patient refferred to our hospital with recurrent episodes of mild pancreatitis during the last two years. The first episode occurred four months after blunt abdominal trauma. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of upper abdomen and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography disclosed pancreas divisum, changes consistent with chronic pancreatitis in the dorsal pancreatic duct, atrophy in the body and tail of the pancreas and a pseudocyst in the pancreatic head, that was drained endoscopically.

CONCLUSION

Pancreas Divisum may interfere with the evolution of posttraumatic changes in the pancreas after blunt abdominal trauma.

Surgical management of recurrent pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum

OBJECTIVE

To analyze an institutional experience with pancreatitis in childhood to clarify the frequency of pancreas divisum in that patient population, the characteristics of pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum, and the role of surgical management in their treatment.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The role of pancreas divisum in causing acute and relapsing pancreatitis and chronic, recurring abdominal pain is controversial. Although the anatomical abnormality is present from birth, most investigators have reported cases with onset of symptoms in adulthood. The reported pediatric experience with this disorder is small, and the natural history of pancreatitis in children with pancreas divisum has not been well elucidated.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all children 18 years of age and younger with a discharge diagnosis of pancreatitis identified 135 patients treated in the authors' institution from 1978 to 1998. Ten patients were found to have anatomical variants of pancreas divisum associated with recurrent or chronic pancreatitis. The medical records of these patients were reviewed for data on the presentation, diagnostic findings, imaging studies, treatment, surgical findings, and pathologic findings in these children. Chart review and telephone calls were used to assess the current state of health in nine patients available for follow-up.

RESULTS

Pancreas divisum was identified in 7.4% of all children with pancreatitis and 19.2% of children with relapsing or chronic pancreatitis. Patients had early onset of recurrent episodic epigastric pain and vomiting, at a mean age of 6 years. Three patients had a positive family history of pancreatitis and one was proven by DNA analysis to have hereditary pancreatitis. Pancreatitis was documented by elevated amylase or lipase levels, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was the method of diagnosis of pancreas divisum in all patients. Eight patients had complete pancreas divisum and two had incomplete variants. Eight patients underwent surgery to improve ductal drainage. Seven underwent transduodenal sphincteroplasty of the accessory papilla, along with sphincteroplasty of the major papilla in two (plus septoplasty in one). Three patients underwent longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy, as a primary procedure in one patient with midductal stenosis and in two because of recurring pancreatitis after sphincteroplasty. The surgical findings and histologic examination of five patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy revealed striking changes of advanced chronic pancreatitis. Patients responding to sphincteroplasty alone showed less severe histologic changes. Overall, three of seven patients had excellent results, three were improved, and one had continued disabling attacks of pancreatitis. The mean duration of follow-up was 7.3 years, and there were no deaths. No patients had endocrine or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and none required chronic analgesics.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreas divisum is an important cause of recurrent pancreatitis in childhood and should be sought aggressively in children with more than one episode of pancreatitis or pancreatitis with a history of chronic recurrent abdominal pain. Surgical intervention is directed toward relief of ductal obstruction and may involve accessory duct sphincteroplasty alone or in combination with major sphincteroplasty and septoplasty. Patients with more distal ductal obstruction or ductal ectasia may benefit from pancreaticojejunostomy.

Prevalence and clinical evolution of isolated ventral pancreatitis in alcoholic chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

The role of pancreas divisum in chronic pancreatitis is controversial. Ductal changes limited to the pancreatic ventral duct (isolated ventral pancreatitis) have only been described as isolated case reports.

METHODS

In a cohort of 542 patients with chronic pancreatitis we determined the frequency of ventral chronic pancreatitis among patients with pancreas divisum and analyzed the clinical presentation of 10 patients with isolated ventral alcohol-induced pancreatitis compared with 10 patients with isolated dorsal alcohol-induced pancreatitis and 30 patients with chronic pancreatitis and without pancreas divisum. Magnetic resonance pancreatography under secretin stimulation was used to evaluate the status of the dorsal pancreatic duct in some patients during follow-up.

RESULTS

We identified 62 (11.4%) patients with pancreas divisum and 16 (2.9%) patients with incomplete pancreas divisum. The ventral duct was affected by chronic pancreatitis in 74% of these patients. Isolated ventral or dorsal duct alterations were identified in 14% and 26%, respectively, of patients with pancreas divisum. Patients with isolated ventral pancreatitis had pain symptoms similar to those of the two other groups but had no endocrine or exocrine insufficiency on initial presentation. After a mean follow-up of 44 months, 83% of patients studied with isolated ventral pancreatitis developed alterations of the dorsal ductal part of the gland.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that isolated ventral alcohol-induced pancreatitis is one of the first manifestations of generalized pancreatic disease where the anatomic factor of pancreas divisum plays only a marginal role.