GROOVE PANCREATITIS WITH RECURRENT DUODENAL OBSTRUCTION - REPORT OF ACASE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH PYLORUS-PRESERVING PANCREATICODUODENECTOMY

Groove pancreatitis is a rare subtype of chronic pancreatitis that is difficult to distinguish from pancreatic carcinoma. Most reported pati ents have undergone a Whipple procedure because pancreatic cancer was not ruled out. We report a case of groove pancreatitis in a patient wh o presented with recurrent duodenal obstruction without biliary strict ure. The diagnosis of groove pancreatitis was based on characteristic episodes of repeated duodenal obstruction and the absence of radiograp hic evidence of cancer. Subsequently, our patient underwent a successf ul pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). PPPD is a favora ble alternative to the Whipple operation for duodenal obstruction resu lting from this disease.