title: Recurrent ectopic pancreatitis of the jejunum and mesentery over a 30-year period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ectopic pancreas is defined as pancreatic tissue found outside its usual anatomical position, with no ductal or vascular communication with the native pancreas. We describe a case of ectopic pancreas of the small bowel and mesentery causing recurrent episodes of pancreatitis, initially suspected on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and confirmed on histological review of the resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 67-year-old woman presented with clinical symptoms and biochemical evidence of pancreatitis. She had similar episodes over the past 30 years with unrevealing investigations, and was concluded to have idiopathic pancreatitis. She underwent CT and MRCP, with findings suggestive of ectopic pancreas, a diagnosis confirmed on histology of the resection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRCP identified a mass in the proximal small bowel mesentery isointense to the native pancreas, with a small duct draining into a proximal jejunal loop. The resected specimen consisted of normal parenchyma with lobulated acinar tissue with scattered islets of Langerhans, an occasional ductular structure, and admixed areas of adipose tissue. The patient remained asymptomatic with normal biochemistry six months post-operatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In an individual with abdominal pain, elevated serum amylase/lipase, but imaging findings of a normal native pancreas, ectopic pancreatitis should be considered, and can be evaluated by CT and MRCP.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: John C T
authors: JC
authors: Wong
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Robinson
authors: Edward C
authors: EC
authors: Jones
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Harris
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Zwirewich
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Wakefield
authors: Richard K
authors: RK
authors: Simons
authors: Eric M
authors: EM
authors: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D002828:Choristoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008643:Mesentery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000209:etiology*; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed