title: Developmental and metabolic disorders of the pancreas.
abstract: The pancreas is an important exocrine and endocrine organ that develops from the dorsal and ventral anlagen during embryogenesis and arises from the endodermal lining of the duodenum within the first month of human embryonic life. A number of developmental disorders can either lead to anatomic abnormalities of the pancreas and its ducts, or can be part of complex disorders that affect multiorgan systems. Other genetic changes can lead to metabolic abnormalities that affect the pancreas exclusively or increase the lifetime risk for developing pancreatitis or pancreatic diabetes. This article reviews some of the developmental and metabolic disorders that can affect the endocrine and exocrine pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Friedrich-Loeffler-Strasse 23A, Greifswald 17485, Germany. lerch@uni-greifswald.de
authors.forename: Markus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenker
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turi
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayerle
mesh_terms: D001506:Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010181:Pancreatic Cyst / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology