Pancreas divisum causing recurrent pancreatitis in a young patient: A case report

Abstract

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common congenital variant of the pancreatic ductal system, in which only a few patients develop symptomatic disease. Overall, PD is an underrecognized cause of many cases of recurrent acute pancreatitis. The PD must be systematically suspected in case of multiple episodes of acute idiopathic pancreatitis when exhaustive etiological investigations are negative. We present a 37-year-old woman whom presented several previous pancreatic pains. She came to the emergency department for epigastric pain, accompanied by post-prandial dietary vomiting after a copious meal. Lipasemia was greater than 3 times normal (498 UI/L). An abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed a PD. The patient improved after the initial management measures. An endoscopic cholangiopancreatography was planned after the resolution of the acute episode. Recurrent pancreatitis is defined as 2 or more episodes of distinct acute pancreatitis with more than 3 months between episodes. Patients with this condition are usually asymptomatic while 5% of patients develop acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis. We can underline the interest of deepening the radiological and endoscopic investigations to make the diagnosis of PD and to propose an endoscopic or surgical treatment, in order to avoid recurrences.

Keywords

• Pancreas divisum
• MRI-magnetic resonance imaging
• Recurrent acute pancreatitis
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
• Case report