True Extramural Diverticulum on the Lateral Wall of the Second Part of Duodenum

Abstract

The duodenum is the second most common site for diverticulum in the gastrointestinal tract after the colon. The extramural duodenal diverticula are common on the medial wall of second part of duodenum due to the opening of the hepatopancreatic duct. The incidence of duodenal diverticula on the lateral wall of the duodenum is only three percent. The present article reports an extramural diverticulum opening in the anterolateral wall of second part of duodenum proximal to the major duodenal papilla in an adult female cadaver. The diverticulum showed all the four layers of the duodenal wall on histological examination. The duodenal diverticula are usually asymptomatic, but if complications develop, the patient may present with non-specific abdominal symptoms, making the clinical diagnosis difficult. Because of this clinical significance, knowledge of such variations may be helpful for surgeons and gastroenterologists who deal with such cases.