title: Ansa pancreatica: an anatomic variation and a rare cause of acute pancreatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ansa pancreatica is a rare anatomic variation of the pancreatic ducts. It is a communication between the main pancreatic duct (Wirsung) and the accessory pancreatic duct (Santorini). Recently, the ansa pancreatica has been considered as a predisposing factor in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  \We report a case of non-alcoholic and non-biliary acute pancreatitis, in a 53-year-old patient. An ansa pancreatica was discovered in a post-operative cholangiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A pancreatic duct variation, as the ansa pancreatica, can be diagnosed during a severe acute pancreatitis. It is still not clear whether the presence of these two pathologies is a coincidence or if the ansa pancreatica is the cause of the acute pancreatitis. New studies are necessary to clarify these points.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Farhat Hached University Hospital, 4000, Sousse, Tunisia, hammadi.jarrar@laposte.net.
authors.forename: Mohamed Salah
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jarrar
authors.forename: Abdelmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khenissi
authors.forename: Rafik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghrissi
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hamila
authors.forename: Rached
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Letaief
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000002:abnormalities*; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology*