Pancreatic heterotopia as a cause of an acute abdomen

A 6-year-old boy with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and leucocytosis was found to have a small nodule of heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the wall of the jejunum. Leakage of pancreatic enzymes caused inflammation and hemorrhagic necrosis of adjacent smooth muscle. Excision of the lesion was followed by prompt and permanent relief of all signs and symptoms. Small intestinal pancreatic rests can cause acute and chronic abdominal complaints and should be carefully sought at laparotomy when no other etiology is encountered.