[Heterotopic pancreas in the ampulla of Vater and papilla]

From 1977 to 1987, six cases of heterotopic pancreas at the ampulla of Vater and the papilla were encountered. All patients were suffering from obstructive jaundice and misdiagnosed as having periampullary cancer and pancreaticoduodenectomy was done. The entity was rare and extremely difficult to diagnose even during exploration. The pathology, diagnosis and surgical treatment of this disease were discussed.