Anat Cell Biol.  2015 Mar;48(1):81-83. 10.5115/acb.2015.48.1.81.

Unduly extensive uncinate process of pancreas in conjunction with pancreatico-duodenal fold

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Anatomy, Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India. swatig2883@yahoo.com

Abstract

Anatomical variations of pancreatic head and uncinate process are rarely encountered in clinical practice. These variations are primarily attributed to the complex development of the pancreas. An unduly enlarged uncinate process of the pancreas overlapping the third part of duodenum was discovered during dissection. This malformation of the pancreatic uncinate process was considered to be due to excessive fusion between the ventral and dorsal buds during embryonic development. On further dissection, an avascular pancreatico-duodenal fold guarding the pancreatico-duodenal recess was observed. The enlarged uncinate process can cause compression of neurovascular structures and also cause compression of adjoining viscera. The pancreatico-duodenal recess becomes a potential site for internal herniation. This case is of particular interest to the gastroenterologists and surgeons performing surgical resections. Precise knowledge of embryogenesis of such pancreatic anomalies is necessary for understanding and thus treating many diseases of the pancreas.

Keyword

Pancreas; Uncinate process; Hypertrophy; Recess

MeSH Terms

Duodenum
Embryonic Development
Female
Head
Hypertrophy
Pancreas*
Pregnancy
Viscera

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Showing the enlarged uncinate process. D-1st,1st part of duodenum; D-2nd, second part of duodenum; D-3rd, third part of duodenum; SMA, superior mesenteric artery; SMV, superior mesenteric vein; SPDA, superior pancreatico-duodenal artery.

  • Fig. 2 Showing the pancreatico-duodenal fold and recess. UP, uncinate process; IPDA, inferior pancreatico-duodenal artery; PDF, pancreatico-duodenal fold; PDR, pancreatico-duodenal recess.


Reference

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