Pancreas divisum: incidence, detection, and clinical significance. 1987

F P Agha, and K D Williams

Pancreas divisum is a congenital anomaly in which the ventral and dorsal pancreas drain separately into the duodenum. It is the most common congenital variant of pancreatic ductal fusion and drainage anomalies. With widespread use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, pancreas divisum is being detected with increasing frequency. Ten cases of pancreas divisum detected among 500 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography examinations performed between 1979 and 1985 at our institution were critically analyzed. Patients with symptomatic pancreas divisum (group 1) were typically young (mean age 29 yr), usually female, and had no history of significant alcohol abuse. Those with incidental detection of pancreas divisum (group 2) were older (mean age 62 yr), usually male with hepatobiliary disease, and had a history of significant alcohol ingestion. The radiological feature of pancreas divisum is characterized by a short (1-6 cm) and thin (2 mm diameter) pancreatic duct (duct of Wirsung) that branches off into regular arborization and drains only the posterior part of the head of the pancreas. This appearance is quite typical; however, this may be simulated by other conditions such as previous pancreatic trauma, partial pancreatectomy, or pancreatitis with irreversible damage to the duct, pseudocyst, and pancreatic carcinoma. The differentiation between true and false pancreas divisum is important because of its clinical implications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010179 Pancreas A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D010183 Pancreatic Ducts Ducts that collect PANCREATIC JUICE from the PANCREAS and supply it to the DUODENUM. Duct of Santorini,Duct of Wirsung,Duodenal Papilla, Minor,Wirsung's Duct,Accessory Pancreatic Duct,Accessory Pancreatic Duct of Santorini,Main Pancreatic Duct,Santorini's Duct,Accessory Pancreatic Ducts,Duct, Accessory Pancreatic,Duct, Main Pancreatic,Duct, Pancreatic,Duct, Santorini's,Duct, Wirsung's,Ducts, Pancreatic,Main Pancreatic Ducts,Minor Duodenal Papilla,Minor Duodenal Papillas,Pancreatic Duct,Pancreatic Duct, Accessory,Pancreatic Duct, Main,Pancreatic Ducts, Accessory,Papilla, Minor Duodenal,Santorini Duct,Wirsung Duct,Wirsungs Duct
D010190 Pancreatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PANCREAS. Depending on the types of ISLET CELLS present in the tumors, various hormones can be secreted: GLUCAGON from PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS; INSULIN from PANCREATIC BETA CELLS; and SOMATOSTATIN from the SOMATOSTATIN-SECRETING CELLS. Most are malignant except the insulin-producing tumors (INSULINOMA). Cancer of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cancer,Cancer of the Pancreas,Neoplasms, Pancreatic,Pancreas Cancer,Pancreas Neoplasms,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinoma,Pancreatic Carcinoma,Acinar Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Acinar Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Cancer, Pancreas,Cancer, Pancreatic,Cancers, Pancreas,Cancers, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic,Carcinoma, Pancreatic Acinar,Carcinomas, Pancreatic,Carcinomas, Pancreatic Acinar,Neoplasm, Pancreas,Neoplasm, Pancreatic,Neoplasms, Pancreas,Pancreas Cancers,Pancreas Neoplasm,Pancreatic Acinar Carcinomas,Pancreatic Cancers,Pancreatic Carcinomas,Pancreatic Neoplasm
D010195 Pancreatitis INFLAMMATION of the PANCREAS. Pancreatitis is classified as acute unless there are computed tomographic or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographic findings of CHRONIC PANCREATITIS (International Symposium on Acute Pancreatitis, Atlanta, 1992). The two most common forms of acute pancreatitis are ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS and gallstone pancreatitis. Acute Edematous Pancreatitis,Acute Pancreatitis,Pancreatic Parenchyma with Edema,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edema,Pancreatitis, Acute,Pancreatitis, Acute Edematous,Peripancreatic Fat Necrosis,Acute Edematous Pancreatitides,Acute Pancreatitides,Edema, Pancreatic Parenchymal,Edematous Pancreatitides, Acute,Edematous Pancreatitis, Acute,Fat Necrosis, Peripancreatic,Necrosis, Peripancreatic Fat,Pancreatic Parenchymal Edemas,Pancreatitides, Acute,Pancreatitides, Acute Edematous,Parenchymal Edema, Pancreatic,Peripancreatic Fat Necroses
D002760 Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde Fiberoptic endoscopy designed for duodenal observation and cannulation of VATER'S AMPULLA, in order to visualize the pancreatic and biliary duct system by retrograde injection of contrast media. Endoscopic (Vater) papillotomy (SPHINCTEROTOMY, ENDOSCOPIC) may be performed during this procedure. ERCP,Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography,Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic,Cholangiopancreatographies, Endoscopic Retrograde,Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographies,Retrograde Cholangiopancreatographies, Endoscopic
D003135 Common Bile Duct The largest bile duct. It is formed by the junction of the CYSTIC DUCT and the COMMON HEPATIC DUCT. Choledochus,Bile Duct, Common,Common Bile Ducts,Duct, Common Bile
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005260 Female Females

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