Development and Congenital Anomalies of the Pancreas

Abstract

Understanding how the pancreas develops is essential to understand the pathogenesis of congenital pancreatic anomalies. Recent studies have shown the advantages of investigating the development of frogs, mice, and chickens for understanding early embryonic development of the pancreas and congenital anomalies, such as choledochal cysts, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction, annular pancreas, and pancreas divisum. These anomalies arise from failure of complete rotation and fusion during embryogenesis. There are many theories in the etiology of congenital anomalies of the pancreas. We review pancreas development in humans and other vertebrates. In addition, we attempt to clarify how developmental failure is related to congenital pancreatic anomalies.

Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas: systematic review of a clinical challenge

“…DPA is a rare malformation caused by the absence of the dorsal pancreatic bud of the endoderm (1,35,36). The entity was first described by Heiberg in 1911 (3) The clinical manifestations of DPA reflect the abnormalities in the embryogenesis of the dorsal pancreas.…”

“…The entity was first described by Heiberg in 1911 (3) The clinical manifestations of DPA reflect the abnormalities in the embryogenesis of the dorsal pancreas. The exocrine and endocrine tissues of the pancreas come from a common pool of multipotent progenitor cells from the foregut which give rise to the trachea, lungs, esophagus, stomach, thyroid, liver, bile ducts and the pancreas (36)(37)(38).…”

“…A detailed description of pancreatic embryogenesis is beyond the scope of this study and several excellent reviews are available (1,(35)(36)(37)(40)(41)(42).…”

Ectopic Opening of the Common Bile Duct Accompanied by Choledochocele and Pancreas Divisum

“…Furthermore, the dorsal pancreatic bud develops on the opposite side of the hepatic diverticulum. At five to seven weeks of gestation, the ventral pancreatic bud and bile ducts rotate from right to left, although the duodenum rotates clockwise, and the ventral and dorsal pancreatic buds fuse together (9,21,28,29). PD occurs because of a failure of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts to fuse during this embryogenetic process (21).…”

Annular pancreas with duodenal stenosis and intestinal malrotation in two years girl: A case report

“…The incidence of annular pancreas has been reported to be 0.005%-0.015% in autopsy cases in adults. It is frequently associated with other congenital abnormalities, such as: oesophageal atresia, imperforate anus, congenital heart disCase report ease, malrotation of the midgut, and Down's syndrome (3). In contrast to adults, children with AP always present with signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction and AP in children is frequently associated with other congenital anomalies (4).…”