Pancreas divisum pathophysiology
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Pancreas Divisum Microchapters |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Pathophysiology
- Variant of the pancreatic ductal system and occurs in 4%–10% of the population.
- Dorsal and ventral anlagen of the pancreas fail to fuse.
- The dorsal duct drains most of the glandular parenchyma through the minor papilla
- The smaller ventral duct drains a portion of the pancreatic head, including the uncinate process, through the major papilla.
- Clinical relevance of pancreas divisum remains controversial.
- Most patients with pancreas divisum are asymptomatic.
- In some patients, this anomaly is associated with recurrent episodes of pancreatitis.
- Postulated that in pancreas divisum, the duct of Santorini and the minor ampulla are too small to adequately drain the secretions produced by the pancreatic body and tail.