Acute Pancreatitis in an Elderly Woman: Annular Pancreas
Maddalena Zippi1*, Chiara Marzano1, Wandong Hong2, Sirio Fiorino3, Giuseppe Occhigrossi1
1.Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
2.Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
3.Unit of Internal Medicine, Maggiore Hospital, Local Health Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Citation : Maddalena Zippi, et.al, "Acute Pancreatitis in an Elderly Woman: Annular Pancreas" ARC Journal of Hepatology and Gastroenterology. 2018; 3(2) : 29-30.
The annular pancreas is a rare congenital malformation of the organ. It generally occurs during the first years of life. Its manifestations in adulthood are rare and generally appear with symptoms of duodenal obstruction. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman, came to our attention for acute pancreatitis due to an annular pancreas, successfully treated surgically.
A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our Unit, due to typical pancreatic abdominal pain and vomiting. Laboratory test showed only an elevation of pancreatic enzymes: amylase 860 (normal 30-110 U/L) and lipase 1.250 (normal 23-300 U/L). Therefore a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) with Gastrografin found a sub-stenosant complete annular pancreatic solid tissue surrounding the lower portion of the second duodenal one, resulting in marked duodenal retro-dilatation up to the bulb (Figure 1a, yellow arrow). A magnetic resonance of the abdomen confirmed the findings of the CT and, in addition, the cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed an alteration of the main pancreatic duct. It had a course anterior to the common bile duct and formed almost a loop with a slight proximal dilatation (Figure 1b, yellow arrow). The patient was treated with bowel rest, broad spectrum antibiotics and gabexatemesilate until the normalization of the pancreatic function. Moreover, insertion of a nasogastric tube was performed under gastroscopy, which confirmed the stenosis of the second portion of the duodenum (Figure 1c) and the presence of some erosions due to the stasis of ingesta. Therefore, a duodeno-jejunal by-pass was performed. Eight days after the surgical intervention, she was discharged in good health and without any intestinal disorder.
Annular pancreas (AP), a rare congenital disease, has a not well defined prevalence due to the fact that this condition may be asymptomatic. Data emerging from autopsy series show a prevalence ranging from 5 to 15 per 100,000 adults with a preference for the male sex [1,2]. The few cases diagnosed in the elderly, generally, present symptoms due to gastric outlet obstruction [3]. In a small percentage of these ones diagnosed at an advanced age, acute pancreatitis may be the initial expression of the underlying congenital malformation [4].
Figure1
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