ANOMALOUS UNFUSED PANCREATIC DUCT PATTERN

Pancreas divisum is a congenital anomaly of the duct system of pancreas that occurs due to the failure of fusion of dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts. This anomaly has been hypothesized as the predisposing factor for chronic, recurrent and idiopathic pancreatitis. During routine dissection, we observed 2 cases of complete type of pancreas divisum. In the observed cases, the patent dorsal pancreatic ducts terminated onto minor duodenal papilla and measured 15.6 cm and 17.3 cm respectively. The patent ventral pancreatic ducts measured 3.2 cm and 2.7 cm respectively and terminated onto the major duodenal papilla after joining with common bile duct. The major papillae were antero-superiorly related to minor papillae and the distance between them measured 4.3cm and 1.4 cm respectively. Awareness and timely detection of this commonly occurring pancreatic anatomical anomaly helps the clinicians to prevent or manage potential recurrent pancreatitis.