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Intussusception Caused by Heterotopic Pancreas: A Tunisian Case Series of 5 Pediatric Patients
Nahla Kechiche1, Dorsaf Makhlouf1, Rachida Laamiri1
1Pediatric Surgery Department, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia.
Insights
Heterotopic pancreas (HP), a rare congenital anomaly, can cause secondary intussusception in children. This study reviewed five pediatric cases, highlighting HP as a crucial differential diagnosis for intussusception.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is a rare congenital anomaly involving pancreatic tissue in ectopic sites.
- Intussusception secondary to isolated HP is exceptionally rare, particularly in pediatric cases.
- Existing pediatric literature primarily consists of case reports.
Approach:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients treated for intussusception caused by HP.
- Data collected from January 1986 to November 2018 from a pediatric surgery department.
- Analysis of epidemiologic and clinical aspects of HP in affected children.
Key Points:
- Five pediatric cases (3 boys, 2 girls, aged 5 months to 2 years) were investigated.
- Diagnosis of HP was incidental during surgery for intussusception.
- HP locations included jejunum (3 cases) and ileum (2 cases).
- Surgical removal of HP was performed with uneventful postoperative courses.
Conclusions:
- Heterotopic pancreas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric secondary bowel intussusception.
- Early recognition and surgical intervention are crucial for managing HP-induced intussusception.
- Further research into the long-term outcomes of HP in pediatric patients is warranted.
Abstract:
Heterotopic pancreas (HP) is a rare congenital developmental anomaly of the gastro-intestinal tract, defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue found in ectopic sites. Intussusception caused by isolated HP is extremely rare. Pediatric reports concerning this pathology are case reports. Here, we report cases of secondary intussusception, in which conservative treatment failed and surgery was performed. The aim of this review is to study the epidemiologic and clinical aspects of HP in pediatric patients from our institution. We retrospectively collected patients who were treated in the pediatric surgery department for intussusception caused by HP, from January 1986 to November 2018. We investigated five patients, three boys and two girls, aged 5 months to 2 years. The diagnosis was made incidentally during the operation. HP was found in the jejunum in three cases and in the ileum in two cases. HP was removed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Although rare, HP should be included in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases, causing secondary bowel intussusception.
