title: Fusion and duplication variants of pancreatic duct system. Clinical and pancreatographic evaluation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of fusion and duplication variants of the pancreatic duct system and their clinical significance. A total of 650 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were reviewed; 485 cases with satisfactory imaging of the pancreatic ducts were included in the study. Anatomic variants were observed in 48 patients (9.9%), fusion variants were 54.1% of the cases (22 pancreas divisum and 4 functional divisum), and duplication variants were 45.8% (13 bifurcations of the main pancreatic duct, 4 loop, 2N-shape, 3 ring). Clinical indications to endoscopic cholangiopancreatography were idiopathic acute pancreatitis (33.3%), suspected chronic pancreatitis (18.7%), unexplained abdominal pain (14.5%), suspected pancreatic mass (10.4%), chronic hyperamylasemia (6.2%), and acute biliary pancreatitis (16.6%). Except for acute biliary pancreatitis (significantly more frequent in duplication variants), no statistical difference was observed between the groups with anatomical variants concerning clinical features.
authors.affiliation: Pancreatic Disease Centre-Internal Medicine Department, Cardarelli Hospital, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uomo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manes
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Anna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laccetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Gaeta
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rabitti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies