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Heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the gallbladder
Shashi P Sharma1, Shahzada K Sohail, Salah Makkawi
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. docshashi@hotmail.com.
Heterotopic pancreas, pancreatic tissue found outside the pancreas, is a rare incidental finding. This case highlights heterotopic pancreas in the gallbladder, emphasizing accurate diagnosis to avoid misclassification as malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Heterotopic pancreas is pancreatic tissue located outside its normal anatomical position, lacking connections to the main pancreas.
- Common sites include the stomach, duodenum, and spleen, with rarer occurrences in the lungs, mediastinum, and gallbladder.
Observation:
- A 43-year-old male patient's laparoscopic cholecystectomy specimen revealed a nodule in the gallbladder neck.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the nodule as heterotopic pancreas, comprising exocrine and endocrine glandular tissue with ducts.
Findings:
- This case represents one of fewer than 40 reported instances of heterotopic pancreas within the gallbladder worldwide.
- Microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of both exocrine and endocrine components, typical of pancreatic tissue.
Implications:
- Pre-operative diagnosis of gallbladder heterotopic pancreas is not feasible, necessitating histopathological confirmation.
- Accurate pathological assessment is crucial to differentiate heterotopic pancreas from malignancies and to recognize potential complications.
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