A Case of Successful Endoscopic Treatment for Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis Due to Pancreas Divisum with Santorinicele Masquerading as Drug Induced Pancreatitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

There are various causes of acute pancreatitis, and accurately determining the etiology is pivotal for selecting appropriate management. Other hidden causes, such as congenital anomaly, should be considered in patients with recurrent abdominal pain or unexplained recurrent pancreatitis. A santorinicele is a focal cystic dilatation of the terminal dorsal pancreatic duct, and this is usually associated with pancreas divisum and it is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis due to the accompanying relative stenosis of the minor papilla. We present here the case of a patient who was treated for acute pancreatitis that was presumably was caused by either Rifampin or Brucellosis, and the patient recovered with conservative management. However, we eventually diagnosed pancreas divisum with santorinicele by performing MRCP and ERCP after the pancreatitis had relapsed. We report here on a case of successful endoscopic treatment for pancreas divisum with santorinicele as a cause of recurrent pancreatitis, and this was initially confused with drug or infection related pancreatitis.

A Case of Santorinicele without Pancreas Divisum: Diagnosis with Multi-detector Row Computed Tomography

A santorinicele is defined as a focal cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct at the minor papilla. Most cases reported previously were associated with pancreas divisum and a santorinicele without pancreas divisum is known to be rare. We recently experienced a typical case of a santorinicele without pancreas divisum in a 67-yr-old woman with abdominal pain and hematochezia, subsequently proven to be the result of an ischemic colitis. The santorinicele was diagnosed incidentally with multi-detector row computed tomography using a minimum intensity projection technique, which clearly showed a cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct and a communication between the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts. This finding was also confirmed by a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

Three Cases of Santorinicele without Pancreas Divisum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Santorinicele is defined as a focal cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct at the minor papilla. It is unclear whether a santorinicele is congenital or an acquired lesion secondary to relative obstruction and a weakness of the distal dorsal duct wall. Because almost all santorinicele reported to date have been associated with pancreas divisum, it has been assumed that santorinicele is related to the obstruction of pancreatic outflow and resultant pancreatitis that occurs in the pancreas divisum. We describe three cases of santorinicele without pancreatic divisum which were identified incidentally.

A Case of Acute Pancreatitis Caused by Santorinicele with Incomplete Pancreas Divisum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A focal cystic dilatation of the terminal portion of the dorsal pancreatic duct at the minor papilla, termed "santorinicele", is seen in a small number of patients with pancreas divisum. Santorinicele is believed to result from a combination, either acquired or congenital, of relative obstruction and weakness of the distal ductal wall and has been suggested as a possible cause of relative stenosis of the accessory papilla, a risk factor for pancreatitis. We report a case of santorinicele associated with incomplete pancreas divisum, found in a 68-year-old woman presented with acute pancreatitis with a brief review of the literatures.

Santorinicele Containing a Pancreatic Duct Stone in a Patient with Incomplete Pancreas Divisum

Santorinicele, a focal cystic dilatation of the distal duct of Santorini, has been suggested as a possible cause of the relative stenosis of the accessory papilla, is associated with complete pancreas divisum, which results in acute episodes of pancreatitis or pain. This report describes a case of a santorinicele, which was initially detected by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as a polypoid mass, in a patient with recurrent abdominal pain. The mass was subsequently proved to be a santorinicele containing a pancreatic duct stone associated with incomplete pancreas divisum on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. To the best of our knowledge this is believed to be the first description of a santorinicele associated with these characteristic findings.

Santorinicele Associated with Pancreas Divisum / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Santorinicele denotes a focal cystic dilatation of the terminal dorsal pancreatic duct at the minor papilla. Santorinicele results from a combination of obstruction and weakness of the distal dorsal ductal wall. This anomaly has been found in patients with pancreas divisum and recurrent acute pancreatitis. We recently experienced a typical case of santorinicele associated with pancreas divisum incidentally found in a 71-year-old woman presented with acute cholecystitis. At duodenoscopy, the minor papilla was plumped out and bulged into the duodenal lumen after contrast injection. Dorsal pancreatography showed a cystic dilatation at the terminal portion of the dorsal duct and upstream dilatation. In this patient, previous pancreatic-type pain and pancreatitis are thought to be related to this anomaly.