Abstract
During routine dissection, duplication of main pancreatic duct extending from body to head region of pancreas was observed in a 78-year-old formalin fixed male cadaver. Main pancreatic duct gave a prominent branch which joined back the parent duct in head resulting in the formation of a closed loop. This gave the appearance of focal duplication in the form of a closed loop, an unusual variant. This was an incidental finding. Such cases usually remain asymptomatic; however, if undetected may be the cause of postoperative pancreatic fistula following pancreaticobiliary surgery. Knowledge of variable anatomy of pancreatic duct system became important to reduce the risk of postoperative complication and during various endoscopic guided procedures like drainage of pseudocyst or placement of stent into the duct.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bang S, Suh JH, Park BK, Park SW, Song SY, Chung JB (2006) The relationship of anatomic variation of pancreatic ductal system and pancreaticobiliary diseases. Yonsei Med J 47(2):243–248
Halpert RD, Shabot JM, Heare BR, Rogers RE (1990) The bifid pancreas: a rare anatomical variation. Gastrointest Endosc 36:60–61
Kawakubo K, Kawakami H, Sakamoto N (2013) Duplicated wirsung duct. Pancreatology 13:98
Lehman GA (2000) Congenital anomalies of the pancreas. In: Sivak MV Jr (ed) Gastroenterologic endoscopy, 2nd edn. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, pp 1084–1097
Le Roy B, Gagniere J, Filaire L, Fontarensky M, Hordonneau C, Buc E (2016) Pancreaticobiliary maljunction and choledochal cysts: from embryogenesis to therapeutics aspects. Surg Radiol Anat 38(9):1053–1060
Prasanna LC, D’Souza AS, Rajagopal KV, Bhat KM (2015) A study on the human pancreaticobiliary duct system and ampulla region with their clinical considerations. Indian J Gastroenterol 34(1):58–62
Sahni D, Jit I, Harjeet (2001) Gross anatomy of the pancreatic ducts in north Indians. Trop Gastroenterol 22(4):197–201
Shukla PJ, Sakpal SV, Maharaj R (2011) Does pancreatic ductal anatomy play a role in determining outcome of pancreatic anastomoses? Med Hypotheses 76(2):230–233
Siegel JH (1992) Radiologic interpretation: normal biliary system and variations; normal pancreatic duct and variations. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-technique, diagnosis and therapy. Raven, New York, pp 25–59
Turkvatan A, Erden A, Turkoglu MA, Yener O (2013) Congenital variants and anomalies of the pancreas and pancreatic duct: imaging by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography and multidetector computed tomography. Korean J Radiol 14(6):905–913
Uomo G, Manes G, D’Anna L, Laccetti M, Di Gaeta S, Rabitti PG (1995) Fusion and duplication variants of pancreatic duct system clinical and pancreatographic evaluation. Int J Pancreatol 17(1):23–28
Acknowledgements
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India, for financial support. Authors wish to thank Mr. Pradeep Singh computer graphist for artwork.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Singh, H.J., Aggarwal, A., Kochhar, R.K. et al. Closed loop of main duct of pancreas: a rare variant configuration. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 1405–1407 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1873-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-017-1873-4