FREQUENCY OF DEVELOPMENTAL VARIATIONS IN THE COURSE AND CONFIGURATION OF PANCREATIC DUCT IN PAKISTANI PATIENTS UNDERGOING MRCP – A TERTIARY CARE UNIT EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Background: Anatomical variations or anomalies of pancreatic ducts are important in planning and performing magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Diagnosing these variants is important because they may be a cause of pancreatitis or gastric outlet obstruction. The purpose of study is to report the frequency of developmental variations in the Pancreatic duct in patients undergoing MRCP.

Objective: To determine the frequency of congenital variations in the pancreaticobiliary tract regarding its course and configuration of Pancreatic duct in patients undergoing MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-pancreatography) and its association with recurrent pancreatitis, plan and minimize iatrogenically caused biliary duct injuries.

Material and Methods: Total 153 patients from both genders were included. This retrospective study was conducted from January 2019 to March 2021. Hospitalized and patients visited OPD and underwent MRCP for various medical and preoperative surgical indications were included in the study. Mean ± SD were calculated of the quantitative variable. Frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables. Chi square test was applied for comparison and p-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Total 153 patients were included in the study out of which 73(47.7%) were male and 80(52.3%) were female. In our study, 101(66%) of patient was found with descending, 28(18.3%) with Sigmoid, 16(10.5%) with Vertical and 8(5.2%) with loop course type. We found 18(11.8%) of patients with type-I, 4(2.6%) with type-II, 126(82.4%) with type-III, 2(1.3%) with type-IV and 3(2%) with type-V variation in configuration.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of our study indicated that variants of pancreatic divisum and normal pancreatic duct variants were not associated with morphologic findings of chronic pancreatitis by using Cambridge classification system.

Keywords: Congenital, Anomalies, Variations, Pancreatic Duct, Cholangio-pancreatography, Magnetic Resonance.