Skip to main content
Log in

Pancreas divisum

A cause of chronic relapsing pancreatitis

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A 36-year-old man, followed for 14 years with recurrent abdominal pain, developed chronic calcific pancreatitis and was found to have pancreas divisum on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. An intraoperative biopsy showed normal acinar tissue in the head of the pancreas, while the body and tail were replaced by fibrous tissue. His pain resolved following surgical drainage of the dorsal pancreatic duct.

Evaluation of the clinical course of this patient and critical review of other such cases in the literature support the role of compromised ductal drainage of the dorsal pancreas in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis in pancreas divisum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cotton PB: Congenital anomality of pancreas divisum as cause of obstructive pain and pancreatitis. Gut 21:105–114, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cotton PB, Kizu M: Malfusion of dorsal and ventral pancreas; a cause of pancreatitis? Gut 18:A400, 1977 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Heiss FW, Shea JA: Association of pancreatitis and various ductal anatomy, dominant drainage of the duct of Santorini. Am J Gastroenterol 70:158–162, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rey JF, Blanc-Mouille C, Garnier C, Delmont J: Le pancreas divisum realite anatomique et source de lesion pancreatique. Ann Gastroenterol Hepatol 14:196–197, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gregg J: Pancreas divisum: Its association with pancreatitis. Am J Surg 134:539–543, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mitchell CJ, Lintott DJ, Ruddell WSJ, Losowsky MS, Axon ATR: Clinical relevance of an unfused pancreatic duct system. Gut 20:1066–1071, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  7. Delhaye M, Cremer M, Dunham F: Pancreas divisum and pancreatitis. Gastroenterology 28:153, 1982 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rosch W, Koch H, Schaffner O, Demling L: The clinical significance of pancreas divisum. Gastrointest Endosc 22:206–207, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sahel J, Cros R, Bourry J, Sarles H: Clinicopathological conditions associated with pancreas divisum. Digestion 23:1–8, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  10. Richter JM, Schapiro RH, Mulley AG, Warshaw AL: Association of pancreas divisum and pancreatitis, and its treatment by sphincteroplasty of the accessory ampulla. Gastroenterology 81:1104–1110, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kruse A: Pancreas divisum. A significantly higher incidence of chronic pancreatitis? Scand J Gastroenterol 12(suppl 45): 52, 1977 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Tulassay Z, Papp J: New clinical aspects of pancreas divisum. Gastrointest Endosc 26:143–146, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gregg JA, Monaco AP, McDermott WV: Pancreas divisum. Results of surgical intervention. Am J Surg 145:488–492, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sahel J, Boustiere C, Sarles H: Endoscopic treatment of pancreatitis due to pancreas divisum. Digestion 25:66, 1982 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cooperman M, Ferrara JJ, Fromkes JJ, Carey LC: Surgical management of pancreas divisum. Am J Surg 143:107–113, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sahel J, Sarles H: Treatment of pancreatic pain and pancreatitis due to pancreas divisum. Gastroenterology 84:1292, 1983 (abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cotton PB: Duodenoscopic papillotomy at the minor papilla for recurrent dorsal pancreatitis. Endosc Dig 3:27–28, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  18. Shapiro TF, Keith RG: Pancreatitis and pancreas divisum. Gastroenterology 83:158, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gregg JA, Monaco AP, McDermott WV: Pancreas divisum. Results of surgical intervention. Am J Surg 145:488–492, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  20. Warshaw AL, Richter JM, Shapiro RH: The cause and treatment of pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum. Ann Surg 198:443–452, 1983

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marshall, J.B., Eckhauser, M.L. Pancreas divisum. Digest Dis Sci 30, 582–587 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320267

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320267

Keywords

Navigation