Prevalence of pancreatic and biliary tract tumors in pancreas divisum.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of pancreatic and biliary tract tumors in pancreas divisum (PD).

METHODS:

A retrospective single-center study was performed, and a total of 118 cases of complete PD and 7850 cases of fused pancreas were identified among the 8537 consecutive new endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) examinations performed between 1980 and 2002. The prevalence of pancreatic cancer (PCA), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), other pancreatic tumors, and biliary tract cancer in the patients with PD and the patients with a fused pancreas were compared.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of the pancreatic tumors in the PD patients was: PCA, 10%; IPMN, 5.1%; other pancreatic tumors, 2.5%. The prevalence of pancreatic tumors in the patients with a fused pancreas was: PCA, 4.8%; IPMN, 2.6%; and other pancreatic tumors, 1.1%. The prevalence of PCA was significantly higher in the patients with PD than in those with a fused pancreas (P = 0.008; OR, 2.24). The percentages of PD patients with PCA who had pancreatic-type pain and a serum pancreatic enzyme elevation were significantly higher than among the PD patients without PCA. The prevalence of biliary tract cancer was 0.8% in the PD group and 5.3% in the fused pancreas group, and it was significantly lower in PD than in fused pancreas (P = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study showed a significantly higher prevalence of PCA in PD than in fused pancreas. We concluded that patients with PD, especially patients presenting with pancreatic-type pain and pancreatic enzyme elevation, should be carefully followed up because of the risk of developing PCA.

• Authors: Takayoshi Nishino, Fumitake Toki, Itaru Oi, Hiroyasu Oyama, Takashi Hatori, Keiko Shiratori
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology (J Gastroenterol) Vol. 41 Issue 11 Pg. 1088-93 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0944-1174 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 17160519 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biliary Tract Neoplasms (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
• Female
• Humans
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreas (abnormalities)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Retrospective Studies