CONGENITAL SHORT PANCREAS - REPORT OF A NEW CASE OBSERVED DURING THE COURSE OF A RECURRENT ACUTE-PANCREATITIS

A new case of congenital short pancreas (partial agenesis or hypoplasi a of the dorsal pancreas) is reported. The patient was a 61-year-old c aucasian man, referred for two episodes of non-severe acute biliary pa ncreatitis. Clinical and laboratory findings and the presence of ultra sound biliary sludge in the gallbladder supported the biliary origin o f pancreatitis. Computerized tomography revealed a slightly enlarged a nd hypodense head of the gland but could not identify any pancreatic t issue in the region of the body and tail. Endoscopic retrograde pancre atography showed a short pancreas with a duct system in communication both with the accessory and main papilla. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed and no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred. Sho rt pancreas is a rare congenital abnormality consisting in the parench yma and ductal system restricted to the head with some residual dorsal tapering and arborizing ducts communicating with the minor papilla. T his anomaly can be an incidental finding and its association with epis odes of recurrent pancreatitis needs to be proven.