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Fusion variations of pancreatic ducts in patients with anomalous arrangement of pancreaticobiliary ductal system
Author(s) -
Ishii Hiroshi,
Arai Kazushige,
Fukushima Motohiko,
Maruoka Yoshibumi,
Hoshino Mitsunori,
Nakamura Akio,
Koike Yasushi,
Sakamoto Nobuyuki,
Hanada Hiroyuki,
Kusano Mitsuo,
Okamatsu Takao
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of hepato‐biliary‐pancreatic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1868-6982
pISSN - 0944-1166
DOI - 10.1007/s005340050054
Subject(s) - pancreatic duct , choledochal cysts , medicine , pancreatitis , cyst , common bile duct , pancreatic carcinoma , biliary ducts , gastroenterology , radiology , pancreatic cancer , cancer
Fusion variations of the pancreatic ducts were studied to elucidate the significance of such variations. We classified structural fusion anomalies of the main and accessory pancreatic ducts on endoscopic retrograde cholangio‐pancreatography (ERCP) in 37 patients with anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AAPB). The fusion variations of the pancreatic ducts were classified into five types: common, ansa pancreatica, branch fusion, looped, and separated. These fusion variations, except for common type, were found in 68% of the 37 patients with AAPB on ERCP. Fusion variations of the pancreatic ducts were very frequent (93%) in the 30 patients with congenital cystic dilatation of the common bile duct (CCD). The branch confluence fashion, in which the terminal bile duct communicated with a pancreatic duct branch, was found only in patients with cystic dilatation cyst of the CCD, and it appeared that cystic dilatation cyst of CCD might differ from spindle or cylindrical cyst originating from embryonic formation of an anomalous confluence. It was also suggested that in patients with fusion variations of the pancreatic ducts, the flow of pancreatic juice might be disordered, leading to the development of acute pancreatitis or pancreatic dysfunction. Consequently, it appears to be necessary to carefully examine patients with AAPB for the presence or absence of any fusion variations of the pancreatic ducts and to observe such patients with long‐term monitoring by ERCP, and computed temography, and with pancreatic function tests.