Successful preoperative diagnosis of heterotopic pancreas in the duodenum

Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is a relatively rare entity occurring in approximately 5% of the general population. It most commonly presents as an asymptomatic mass incidentally picked up on unrelated scans. HP most commonly occurs intra-abdominally, but has been known to occur in extra-abdominal sites such as the lung and brain. It is widely considered to bear little to no malignant potential. Difficulty and ambiguity in the diagnosis of HP commonly results in interventional dilemma and delay.

We present a case of uncomplicated HP that was ultimately treated conservatively.

A literature review is made of the typical workup in a patient with suspected HP, and the characteristic radiological and endoscopic findings commonly used for diagnosis of this rare condition. A succinct summary of management guidelines for HP is reviewed.

HP is most commonly an incidental finding. Ambiguity surrounding its diagnosis commonly gives rise to interventional dilemma and delay. The gold standard for diagnosis remains that of EUS and FNA with histological confirmation. This report has been written in concordance with the SCARE criteria Agha et al. [1].