Open AccessGroove pancreatitis: a challenging imaging diagnosis
Author(s) -
Gloria Addeo,
Davide Beccani,
Diletta Cozzi,
Riccardo Ferrari,
Monica Marina Lanzetta,
Pasquale Paolantonio,
Silvia Pradella,
Vittorio Miele
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
gland surgery
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.643
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2227-8575
pISSN - 2227-684X
DOI - 10.21037/gs.2019.04.06
Subject(s) - medicine , pancreatitis , duodenum , pancreatic head , pancreatic duct , magnetic resonance imaging , differential diagnosis , radiology , autoimmune pancreatitis , common bile duct , etiology , acute pancreatitis , pancreas , gastroenterology , pathology
Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an uncommon form of chronic pancreatitis (CP) involving the space between duodenum, pancreatic head and common bile duct (CBD) known as pancreatic-duodenal groove. Although an association with long-standing ethanol assumption is reported a definite etiology of GP is unknown. Since thickening of the duodenal wall, pancreatic head enlargement, CBD stricture and dilatation of pancreatic duct system are common findings the differential diagnosis with pancreatic head neoplasm by means of imaging can be challenging. However, some imaging findings such as fibrotic changes of the pancreatic groove and presence of duodenal wall cysts may suggest the correct diagnosis. In this paper we review clinical and imaging features of GP with emphasis on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.