Discrepancy between pancreatographic and histopathological findings in the ventral pancreas of pancreas divisum.

CONTEXT: Pancreas divisum is a congenital anomaly in which the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts do not communicate.

CASE REPORT: Autopsy case of pancreas divisum with a history of heavy consumption of alcohol was presented. Pancreatography via the major duodenal papilla showed a short ventral pancreatic duct of 1 cm in length, and hypoplasia of the ventral pancreas was suspected. As large cysts were confined to the dorsal pancreas, isolated dorsal pancreatitis was also suspected. At autopsy, extensive fibrosis was detected in both the ventral and dorsal pancreas. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that PP-rich islets were scattered in the fibrotic area between the ventral pancreatic parenchyma and the neck of the pancreas, suggesting that this fibrotic area originated from the ventral pancreas. These facts suggest that the short ventral pancreatic duct was not induced by hypoplasia of the ventral pancreas but was shortened secondarily by the alcohol-induced fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS: In pancreas divisum, a short ventral pancreatic duct resulting from secondary factors may be confused with that originating from hypoplasia of the ventral pancreas.