Annular Pancreas: Endoscopic and Pancreatographic Findings from a Tertiary Referral ERCP Center

Date:	2019 Feb
PMID:	30240880
Category:	2
Authors:	Mark A Gromski 1, Glen A Lehman 1, Nicholas J Zyromski 2, James L Watkins 1, Ihab I El Hajj 1, Damien Tan 3, Lee McHenry 1, Jeffrey J Easler 1, Temel Tirkes 4, Stuart Sherman 1, Evan L Fogel 1
Abstract:

Background and Aims: Annular pancreas is a congenital anomaly whereby pancreatic tissue encircles the duodenum. Current knowledge of endoscopic findings of annular pancreas is limited to small case series. The aim of this study was to describe the endoscopic and pancreatographic findings of patients with annular pancreas at a large tertiary care ERCP center.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Our Institutional Review Board-approved, prospectively collected ERCP database was queried for cases of annular pancreas. The electronic medical records were searched for patient and procedure-related data.

Results: From January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2016, 46 patients with annular pancreas underwent ERCP at our institution. Index ERCP was technically successful in 42 patients (91.3%), and technical success was achieved in all 46 patients (100%) after 2 attempts, when required. A duodenal narrowing or ring was found in most patients (n = 39, 84.8%), yet only 2 (4.3%) had retained gastric contents. Pancreas divisum was found in 21 patients (45.7%), 18 of which were complete divisum. Pancreatobiliary neoplasia was the indication for ERCP in 7 patients (15.2%). Pancreatographic findings consistent with chronic pancreatitis were noted in 15 patients (32.6%) at the index ERCP.

Conclusion: This is the largest series describing the endoscopic and pancreatographic findings of patients with annular pancreas. We found that 45.7% of patients had concurrent pancreas divisum. Endoscopic therapy was successful in most patients at our institution after 1 ERCP, and in all patients after a second ERCP. Nearly one-third of patients had findings consistent with chronic pancreatitis at the time of index ERCP. It is unclear whether this may be a feature of the natural history of annular pancreas.

Copyright © 2019 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Acknowledgements:

The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Health, or the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

The Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC) Research Consortia is supported and funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases under the following award numbers:

Project Number:	Awardee Organization
U01DK108326	Baylor College of Medicine
U01DK108314	Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
U01DK108332	Indiana University
U01DK108323	Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
U01DK108288	Mayo Clinic
U01DK108327	Ohio State University
U01DK108300	Stanford University
U01DK108320	University of Florida
U01DK108306	University of Pittsburgh
U01DK108328	University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center