Abnormal location of papilla of Vater: a cadaveric study

We report a case of a male cadaver aged 72 years with an ectopic location of the papilla of Vater. The ectopic papilla was situated at the supero-posterior border of the 3rd portion of the duodenum at a distance of 0.9 cm from the limit of the 2nd and 3rd portions of the duodenum. The frequency of this anomaly fluctuates between 0 and 11.83% and when the papilla is located distal to its usual position the usual location is in the proximal 2 cm of the 3rd part of the duodenum. We refer to the possible difference in the papilla's location between patients and cadavers and call attention to the differential diagnosis with spontaneous or surgical fistulae.