Choledochocele as a cause of recurrent pancreatitis.
A patient with recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis found to be caused by the presence of a choledochocele is presented. Transhepatic cinecholangiography revealed a choledochocele receiving the terminations of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct, which emptied via a pinpoint opening into the duodenum. With duodenal peristalsis, the contrast material filling the choledochocele could be seen refluxing into the pancreatic duct. A discussion of the possible etiologies of choledochoceles and a review of the existing literature is presented.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002758:Cholangiography; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000503:physiopathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence