Pancreatic duct diversity.
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.
Hac
Stanislaw
S
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
Nalecz
Adam
A
Dobosz
Marek
M
Reszetow
Jacek
J
Dobrowolski
Sebastian
S
Friess
Helmut
H
Mihaljevic
Andre L
AL
Studniarek
Michal
M
Jaskiewicz
Kazimierz
K
Sledzinski
Zbigniew
Z
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