Open AccessUnexpected anomaly of the common bile duct and pancreatic duct
Author(s) -
Disaya Chavalitdhamrong,
Peter V. Draganov
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of clinical cases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.368
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2307-8960
DOI - 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i2.36
Subject(s) - medicine , pancreatic duct , bile duct , duct (anatomy) , common bile duct , cystic duct , radiology , general surgery , anatomy , pancreas
Variations in the bile duct and pancreatic duct opening are related to the process of rotation and recanalization during embryologic development. Complete non-union of distal common bile duct and pancreatic duct gives rise to double papillae of Vater. The separation of the drainage of the main pancreatic duct and bile duct can be appreciated by careful assessment at the time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy. The cranial orifice is a bile duct opening, whereas the caudal orifice is a pancreatic duct opening. The separate orifice finding can be confirmed by cholangiogram and pancreatogram with no communication between the two orifices. Endoscopists should be aware of this rare variant because late recognition can result in unnecessary manipulation and contrast injections of the main pancreatic duct and biliary cannulation failure.