Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum with malposition of the ampulla of Vater

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly, sometimes associated with malposition of the ampulla of Vater. When the diverticulum is excised, the position of the ampulla should be determined carefully to avoid injury to pancreaticobiliary ducts. We report two patients with symptomatic intraluminal duodenal diverticulum and malposition of the ampulla. The ampulla was located on the rim of the diverticulum in one patient; in the others, the ampullary site was the posterior wall of the duodenum. Both patients underwent successful excision of the diverticulum without ductal injuries. As we have been unable to find any case with an ampullary location on the anterior wall of the duodenum, anterior duodenotomy followed by identification of the ampulla must precede excision of the diverticulum in order to avoid pancreaticobiliary ductal injuries.