The clinical relevance of isolated ventral pancreas

An isolated ventral pancreas results from failure of fusion of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts. Until the advent of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the clinical significance of this abnormality was not known. A series of 11 such patients in 850 consecutive ERCP examinations is described. No other cause for their symptoms was discovered. Secretory studies showed a low volume of pancreatic juice with normal concentration of bicarbonate and trypsin. In 5 cases operative dorsal pancreatography was performed: it was normal in all cases. In 3 cases the pancreatic tail was amputated and found unexpectedly to be the seat of pancreatitis in 2. Isolated ventral pancreas may be associated with pancreatitis, but this is not proved.