Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas

Abstract

Developmental anomalies of the pancreas have been reported but dorsal pancreatic agenesis is an extremely rare entity. We report an asymptomatic 62-year-old woman with complete agenesis of the dorsal pancreas. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a normal pancreatic head, but pancreatic body and tail were not visualized. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were similar to CT. At magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), the major pancreatic duct was short and the dorsal pancreatic duct was not visualized. The final diagnosis was dorsal pancreatic agenesis.

Periampullary carcinoma in a patient with agenesis of dorsal pancreas

“…CT scan can detect this entity, as only the pancreatic head is seen whereas the dorsal pancreas ventral to the splenic vessels is not seen (8). A pancreatogram (MRCP/ERCP) is essential to unequivocally diagnose partial or complete agenesis (9,10). In our case also the CT scan showed absence of dorsal pancreas.…”

Neuroendocrine tumour in pancreatic dorsal agenesis: a rare association

“…The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ of the upper abdomen that weighs 70–150 g and measures 15–25 cm in length, with connection to the duodenum via the ampulla of Vater where the main pancreatic ducts coalesce with the common bile duct 2. The pancreas develops by ventral and dorsal endodermal buds 1–3.…”

“…When symptomatic, the main symptoms are abdominal pain, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, weight loss and jaundice,2 so pancreas divisum and autodigestion secondary to chronic pancreatitis must be considered in the clinical and radiological differential diagnosis 4 5…”

Sonographic features of agenesis of dorsal pancreas

“…A few case reports have been published in the literature. [123456] However, ultrasonographic features of this condition have not been reported to the best of our knowledge. The patients with ADP can be asymptomatic or present with abdominal pain, weight loss, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, bile duct obstruction, duodenal obstruction, or rarely pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.…”