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Ectopic pancreas presenting with intractable diarrhea: case report
Funda Uğur Kantar1, Mesut Akarsu, Koray Atılla
1Dokuz Eylül University, Department of Gastroenterology, İzmir, Turkey. fundaugurkantar@yahoo.com
Summary
Ectopic pancreas, a rare congenital anomaly, can cause severe diarrhea. This case highlights a duodenal ectopic pancreas successfully treated with surgical excision, resolving intractable diarrhea.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Ectopic pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly.
- It often presents incidentally with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Rarely, it can mimic gastrointestinal cancers or cause obstruction.
Observation:
- A case of ectopic pancreas located in the duodenum is presented.
- The lesion measured 1.5 cm, was submucosal with central umbilication, and had normal overlying mucosa.
- Initial endoscopic biopsy was inconclusive, necessitating surgical excision for definitive diagnosis.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed the lesion as ectopic pancreas.
- The patient experienced intractable diarrhea attributed to the ectopic pancreas.
- Surgical excision of the duodenal ectopic pancreas led to complete resolution of symptoms.
Implications:
- This case represents the first reported instance of ectopic pancreas presenting with diarrhea.
- It expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations for this congenital anomaly.
- Highlights the importance of considering ectopic pancreas in the differential diagnosis of unexplained severe diarrhea.
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