Pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum is a congenital anomaly where the ducts of the pancreas fail to join together during fetal development.

This condition affects the pancreas, an organ located in the abdomen that plays a critical role in digestion and blood sugar regulation.

In a typical pancreas, the dorsal and ventral ducts merge to form a single main pancreatic duct, which allows digestive enzymes to flow into the duodenum.

However, in pancreas divisum, these ducts remain separate, resulting in two drainage pathways.

While pancreas divisum is the most common congenital pancreatic anomaly, most individuals with this condition do not experience symptoms and remain asymptomatic throughout their lives.

However, in some cases, it can lead to recurrent pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas, due to the inadequate drainage of pancreatic enzymes.

Diagnosis of pancreas divisum is often incidental during imaging studies such as Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

These scans can be part of a torso or full-body imaging protocol.

Treatment is typically reserved for symptomatic cases and may involve endoscopic or surgical interventions to improve drainage and reduce the risk of pancreatitis.