Pancreas divisum

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Pancreas divisum
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Often asymptomatic, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis
Complications	Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic duct obstruction
Onset	Congenital
Duration	Lifelong
Types	N/A
Causes	Congenital anomaly of the pancreatic duct
Risks
Diagnosis	Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Differential diagnosis	Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer
Prevention	None
Treatment	Endoscopic sphincterotomy, stent placement
Medication	Analgesics, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
Prognosis	Generally good with treatment
Frequency	5-10% of the population
Deaths	N/A

MRCP of pancreas

Pancreas divisum is a congenital anomaly in the anatomy of the ducts of the pancreas in which a single pancreatic duct is not formed, but rather remains as two distinct dorsal and ventral ducts. This condition can lead to pancreatitis.

Anatomy

In a normal pancreas, the dorsal and the ventral ducts will fuse together to form one main pancreatic duct. This main duct will join the common bile duct before entering the duodenum via the ampulla of Vater. However, in pancreas divisum, this normal fusion of the ducts does not occur, and the dorsal and the ventral ducts remain separate.

Symptoms

The symptoms of pancreas divisum can vary, but often include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are often associated with pancreatitis, which can be a complication of pancreas divisum.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of pancreas divisum can be challenging, as the symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions. However, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can be used to visualize the pancreatic ducts and confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for pancreas divisum often involves managing the symptoms and complications. This can include pain management, dietary changes, and in some cases, surgery to drain the pancreatic ducts.

See also

• Pancreas
• Pancreatitis
• Ducts (anatomy)
• Duodenum (anatomy)
• Ampulla of Vater

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