A 50 year-old man had a recent history of three episodes of acute pancreatitis. The usual causes of acute pancreatitis (gallstones and alcohol abuse) were reliably ruled out. CT-scan demonstrated a 5mm “cyst” in the pancreatic duct in the body of the pancreas. Later in the course of the disease, the pancreatic duct was found to be dilated. Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) and biopsy confirmed Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN). The patient was cured by the removal of the body and tail of the pancreas, to the left of the portal vein.
The enlargement of the pancreas and the dilatation of the pancreatic duct are shown.