ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF ABERRANT PANCREAS IN UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACTS

Abstract

Aberrant pancreas of upper gastrointestinal tracts was evaluated with endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The subjects were two cases of aberrant pancreas in stomach and one in duodenal bulb. In all cases, aberrant pancreas were detected clearly. The findings of EUS were as follows : (1) Aberrant pancreas were detected as a mass in the submucosal layer (third layer) of stomach or duodenum. (2) The echo pattern was solid with some small cystic or ductulous less-echoic areas. (3) In one case of aberrant pancreas in stomach, the proper muscle layer (the fourth layer) surrounding the mass was thickened. It is considered that the finding (1) is compatible with aberrant pancreas and the findings (2) and (3) are characteristic with aberrant pancreas. In conclusion, when these EUS findings are seen in submucosal tumor, it will be able to diagnose that the tumor is most probably to be an aberrant pancreas.