Cystic dystrophy of an aberrant pancreas: surgical cure after failure of medical treatment

BACKGROUND: Cystic dystrophy of aberrant pancreas, characterized by cystic formations in ectopic pancreatic tissue, produces variable signs. Treatment is difficult. CASE REPORT: Our patient presented signs of acute pancreatitis and angiocho litis due to cystic dystrophy of an aberrant pancreas situated in the duode nal wall associated with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Prolonged medical treatment was unsuccessful. Duodenopancreatectomy with preservation of the tail led to complete regression of the clinical signs. DISCUSSION: Signs of cystic dystrophy of an aberrant pancreas vary greatly. Diagnosis is generally established on the basis of echoendoscopic findings . After failure of medical treatment, duodenopancrdeatectomy with preservat ion of the tail could be the most appropriate surgical treatment, hypothesi zing that the disorders result from obstruction of the Wirsung and the lowe r main bile ducts.