A giant retention cyst of the pancreas (cystic dilatation of dorsal pancreatic duct) associated with pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum: a reemerging risk factor for pancreatic diseases

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common developmental anatomic variant of pancreatic duct. The attention towards the PD has grown significantly since there are reports that this condition may cause acute relapsing pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and chronic abdominal pain syndrome. Furthermore, over the years, there have been multiple reports of PD associated with different types of tumors. There is evidence that PD can be associated with pancreatic tumors (up to 12.5% of cases). The golden standard for diagnosing PD is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, but since it is an invasive procedure magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with secretin is a good alternative. In case the patient is symptomatic, endoscopic or surgical treatment should be performed. This review describes the key points of the pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, risks of pancreatitis and tumors, as well as treatment options of PD.

Pancreatic retention cyst: multi-modality imaging findings and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To investigate the multi-modality imaging presentation of the pancreatic retention cyst (PRC) with pathologic correlation.

METHODS

Imaging data including CT, MRI, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in fifteen patients (five males and ten females; mean age, 44.5 years) with pathologically proven PRC were analyzed retrospectively, and imaging features were correlated with pathological findings.

RESULTS

Sixteen PRCs of 15 patients were included in this study. The mean size of PRCs was 4.4 × 4.6 cm (range 0.5 × 0.6-8.1 × 10.1 cm). PRC were round (n = 11), oval (n = 2), or lobular (n = 3). Punctiform calcification of the wall on CT (n = 2), thin septa (n = 4), thin wall (n = 3), and dilation of upstream pancreatic duct (n = 6; mean diameter, 4.3 mm) were detected. Dilation of upstream pancreatic duct was smooth in five PRCs and irregular in one PRC with pancreatic duct with punctiform calcification. Communication of PRCs with pancreatic duct was seen in two patients (one on CT, one on ERCP). Pancreatic inflammation and neoplasm were detected in four and two patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PRC typically presents as a well-defined, round cystic lesion, and different associated pathologic conditions including pancreatic inflammation and neoplasm may be detected in some patients on the multi-modality imaging examinations. Smooth dilation of upstream pancreatic duct with uncommon communication to the cyst may be helpful for the differentiation. Combination of a variety of imaging modalities could contribute to improve the diagnosis.

Pancreatic cysts: pathologic classification, differential diagnosis, and clinical implications

CONTEXT

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are being recognized with increasing frequency and have become a more common finding in clinical practice because of the widespread use of advanced imaging modalities and the sharp drop in the mortality rate of pancreatic surgery. Consequently, in the past 2 decades, the nature of many cystic tumors in this organ has been better characterized, and significant developments have taken place in the classification and in our understanding of pancreatic cystic lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of the current concepts in classification, differential diagnosis, and clinical/biologic behavior of pancreatic cystic tumors.

DATA SOURCES

The authors' personal experience, based on institutional and consultation materials, combined with an analysis of the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to solid tumors, most of which are invasive ductal adenocarcinomas with dismal prognosis, cystic lesions of the pancreas are often either benign or low-grade indolent neoplasia. However, those that are mucinous, namely, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and mucinous cystic neoplasms, constitute an important category because they have well-established malignant potential, representing an adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Those that are nonmucinous such as serous tumors, congenital cysts, lymphoepithelial cysts, and squamoid cyst of pancreatic ducts have no malignant potential. Only rare nonmucinous cystic tumors that occur as a result of degenerative/necrotic changes in otherwise solid neoplasia, such as cystic ductal adenocarcinomas, cystic pancreatic endocrine neoplasia, and solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm, are also malignant and have variable degrees of aggressiveness.

Pancreatic cyst associated with pancreas divisum treated by laparoscopy-assisted cystgastrostomy in the intragastric approach: a case report and a review of the literature

A 39-year-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital after experiencing recurrent episodes of pancreatitis over the previous 2 years. On the first episode, he had been admitted to our hospital with elevated serum amylase levels and epigastralgia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a diffuse, uncircumscribed area with heterogeneous density in the pancreas. No previous history of pancreatitis, gallstones, drinking, or abdominal injury was elicited. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) demonstrated that the Wirsung duct was unconnected to the Santorini's duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography through the papilla of Vater and accessory papilla revealed an enlarged ventral pancreatic duct, pancreas divisum, and a cystic lesion in the pancreatic body. On the second and third episodes, endoscopic drainage of the pancreatic pseudocysts through the accessory papilla and ultrasonography-guided transmural drainage were unsuccessful. A follow-up CT and MRCP demonstrated that the pancreatic cyst had enlarged to 9 x 8 cm in diameter. A laparoscopy-assisted cystgastrostomy was performed with an intragastric approach. An anastomosis was performed using an endoscopic linear stapler through the small cystotomy and gastrotomy openings on the posterior wall of the stomach. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. Over 6 months later, the patient remains well and with a good quality of life. A laparoscopy-assisted cystgastrostomy, using an intragastric surgical technique, offers a safe, less-invasive procedure for cyst drainage by the pancreas divisum.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas

Although cystic tumors of the pancreas are relatively rare, they constitute an increasingly important category. Advances in imaging and interventional techniques and the sharp drop in the mortality rate of pancreatic surgery have rendered pancreatic biopsies and resections commonplace specimens. Consequently, in the past two decades, the nature of many cystic tumors in this organ has been better characterized. The names of some existing entities were revised; for example, what was known as papillary-cystic tumor is now regarded as solid-pseudopapillary tumor. New entities, in particular, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and its variants, such as oncocytic and intestinal subtypes were recognized. The importance of clinical and pathologic correlation in the evaluation of these lesions was appreciated, in particular, with regards to the multifocality of these lesions, their association with invasive carcinomas, and thus their 'preinvasive' nature. Consensus criteria for the distinction of these from the ordinary precursors of adenocarcinoma, the pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, were established. The definition of mucinous cystic neoplasms was refined; ovarian-like stroma has now become almost a requirement for the diagnosis of mucinous cystic neoplasia, and defined as such, the propensity of these tumors to occur in perimenopausal women became even more striking. The validity and clinical value of classifying the pancreatic cysts of mucinous type as adenoma, borderline, CIS and invasive have been established. Related to this, the importance of thorough sampling in accurate classification of these mucinous lesions was recognized. Greater accessibility of the pancreas afforded by improved invasive as well as noninvasive modalities has also increased the detection of otherwise clinically silent cystic tumors, which has led to the recognition of more innocuous entities such as acinar cell cystadenoma and squamoid cyst of pancreatic ducts. As the significance of the cystic lesions emerged, cystic forms of otherwise typically solid tumors were also better characterized. Thus, significant developments have taken place in the classification and our understanding of pancreatic cystic tumors in the past few years, and experience with these lesions is likely to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Anatomical features of the minor duodenal papilla in pancreas divisum

BACKGROUND

Clinical expression of pancreas divisum is often explained as a consequence of relative or true stenosis of the minor papilla with dorsal duct obstruction. This anatomo-functional study of the minor papilla in pancreas divisum has included its topographical, functional and structural features.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was carried out on 37 human autopsy specimens of duodenopancreas, which underwent pancreatography, manometrically controlled perfusion and light microscopy.

RESULTS

One pancreas divisum was detected in the study group. In this case, the distances between the minor and the major papilla was 24.0 mm, and between the minor papilla and the superior duodenal flexure 27.4 mm. The minor papilla was patent when perfused under pressure of 10 mmHg, and its light microscopy revealed regular global histological organization with only light fibrosis and no cellular atypia.

CONCLUSIONS

The structure and position of the minor papilla in pancreas divisum did not significantly differ from the ones in fused pancreases.

Recurrent pancreatitis in a patient with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder characterized by multiple cysts in kidneys and other organs. A 63-year-old man was evaluated for the etiology of recurrent pancreatitis and chronic renal failure. Multiple cysts of kidneys, liver, and pancreas and pancreas divisum was diagnosed. Pancreatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in patients with ADPKD. Pancreas divisum may be a predisposing factor for acute pancreatitis in these patients.