THE VALUE OF PANCREATOSCOPY IN PATIENTS WITH MUCINOUS DUCTAL ECTASIA

We report here on three cases of mucinous ductal ectasia in which the diagnosis was suggested by abdominal computed tomography and finally e stablished by duodenoscopy with pancreatoscopy. Duodenoscopic examinat ion of the ampulla of Vater demonstrated a patulous papillary orifice and extrusion of viscid mucus. Pancreatoscopic examination was carried out in all three patients, and characteristic findings such as papill ary or villous mucosal projections coated with whitish gelatinous mucu s were noted. In patients with mucinous ductal ectasia in whom the rad iographic findings are equivocal, pancreatoscopic examination may prov ide valuable information for the differential diagnosis of amorphous f illing defects in the main pancreatic duct, and may provide informatio n that helps to determine the extent of the pathology and the resectio n margin.