title: Pancreatic duct diversity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The formation of the pancreatic duct system is the result of the fusion of 2 embryonic buds, the ventral and dorsal primordia. Frequently, this fusion process is localized in the pancreatic head; variations, however, may account for the structural diversity of the duct system. Pancreatic duct anomalies and diversity of body and tail are thought to be casuistic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-nine consecutive adult autopsies with reference to macroscopic anomalies in the distal part of the gland were evaluated. Pancreatograms were performed after large duodenal papilla cannulation. Ducts parallel to gland axis with a diameter of at least one third of the main pancreatic duct at the junction point and aberrant duct with different shapes and/or abnormal third-degree ductuli architecture were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study revealed a 9.9% frequency of main pancreatic duct diversity in the pancreatic corpus and tail. Eleven atypical ducts were visible, 9 cranially and 2 caudally from the main pancreatic duct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pancreatic duct system in the body and the tail presents abnormal configuration not described in the past.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Division of Surgical Nursing, Gdansk Municipal Hospital of Gdansk, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. sthac@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Stanislaw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hac
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nalecz
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobosz
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reszetow
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dobrowolski
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friess
authors.forename: Andre L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mihaljevic
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Studniarek
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jaskiewicz
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sledzinski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography