Pancreatic morphology/contour variations should be recognized and remembered

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Anatomy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Pancreatic contour variations are frequently identified incidentally during computed tomography (CT) examinations.
• Accurate recognition of these anatomical variations is essential for precise volumetric measurements, surgical procedures, and preventing misdiagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the morphological and contour variations of the pancreas, including the head-neck, body-tail, and uncinate process.
• Utilize multi-detector CT (MDCT) in a triple-phase abdominal scan protocol for detailed assessment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 945 adult patients (age >18 years) who underwent triple-phase MDCT.
• Categorization of uncinate process variations (aplasia, hypoplasia) and pancreatic contour variances using established classifications (Ross et al., Omeri et al.).
• Classification of head-neck variants (Type I-III) and body-tail variants (Type Ia, Ib, IIa-IId).

Main Results:

• Uncinate process hypoplasia occurred in 7% of patients, and aplasia in 1.3%.
• Pancreatic head-neck and body-tail contour variations were present in 63.1% of patients.
• The most common head-neck variation was Type II (24.6%), and common tail variations included Type IIa (6.6%) and IIb (5.3%).

Conclusions:

• Anatomical variations in pancreatic contour are not rare and are frequently detected on CT scans.
• Awareness and recognition of these variations are critical for radiologists and surgeons to ensure accurate patient management and avoid diagnostic errors.