Pancreas Divisum Causing Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Pancreas divisum is one of the rare causes of recurrent pancreatitis. Diagnosis is challenging and diagnostic failure leads to recurrent episodes of pancreatitis and ultimately pancreatic failure. Case: Here we are presenting a case of a young female with a history of recurrent attacks of upper abdominal pain which on work up was diagnosed as pancreas divisum. This patient was successfully treated with ERCP with minor papillotomy followed by stenting in major papilla. Written informed consent was taken from the patient before writing this case report.Conclusion: This report emphasises the need for early suspicion of disease, in patients with recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, by clinician and efficacy of minimally invasive procedures (ERCP) as a definitive treatment option.

The Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Pancreatic Divisum: A Case Series of 57 Case Reports

“…The main pancreatic duct empties the dorsal pancreatic portion into the minor duodenal papilla; the ventral pancreatic duct and the smaller component of the pancreas join with the common bile duct at the hepatopancreatic ampulla in PD. 14 The high-flow pancreatic secretions in PD flow through the small caliber of minor papilla compared with the large caliber hepatopancreatic ampulla in a standard variant. The increased flow rate across the minor papilla can lead to dilation, obstruction, and increased ductal pressure, causing pancreatitis and other hepatopancreatic problems.…”

“…It is essential to understand the anatomy of the pancreas to know the correlation between pancreatitis and PD. The main pancreatic duct empties the dorsal pancreatic portion into the minor duodenal papilla; the ventral pancreatic duct and the smaller component of the pancreas join with the common bile duct at the hepatopancreatic ampulla in PD 14 . The high-flow pancreatic secretions in PD flow through the small caliber of minor papilla compared with the large caliber hepatopancreatic ampulla in a standard variant.…”