Imaging of the pancreas: Part 1

The head is situated within the duodenal c-loop, while the tail lies in the splenic hilum slightly superior to the head. Since the pancreas is unencapsulated, there is uninhibited spread of tumor and inflammation to surrounding structures. [...]in the pancreas divisum, there is complete separation of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts.5 An association between the pancreas divisum and pancreatitis is described and is believed to be due to the relative obstruction of the dorsal pancreatic duct, which carries digestive enzymes from the majority of the gland and empties through smaller minor papilla.6 This, however, is controversial and other authors believe that pancreas divisum is not causative in pancreatitis, but rather only associated with other known genetic causes of acute and chronic pancreatitis, such as CTFR, SPINK1, and PRSS1 associated mutations.7 Annular pancreas can result during rotation of the ventral pancreatic bud as it fuses with the dorsal bud, resulting in a ring of pancreatic tissue encircling the duodenum, causing gastric outlet obstruction in infants and pancreatitis in adults (Figure 2).