The cause and treatment of pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum

Recurrent pancreatitis is more prevalent in the 4% of people with pancreas divisum (nonfused dorsal and ventral ducts), and it has been proposed that the pancreatitis is caused by stenosis at the orifice of the dorsal duct. We have treated 40 patients with pancreas divisum and proven or probable pancreatitis. The diagnoses were made by endoscopic pancreatography showing a foreshortened (less than 6 cm) ventral duct (Wirsung) and confirmed by postoperative pancreatograms showing the separate main duct (Santorini) emptying via the accessory papilla. Of these, 32 patients (25 men, 7 women, median age 30) had recurrent acute pancreatitis (22) or persistent pain (10) without chronic inflammation or fibrosis. Twenty-nine have been treated by transduodenal sphincteroplasty of the accessory papilla; 22 were stenotic (0.75 mm or less) and 7 nonstenotic. Among 25 patients observed for longer than 6 months after surgery, the relief of pain and pancreatitis has been good in 17, fair in 1, and poor in 7. There was no difference between accessory papillotomy alone (10-0-3) v papillotomies of both accessory and major papillae (7-1-4). Patients with stenosis (16-1-1) fared better (p less than 0.001) than those without stenosis (1-0-6). Those presenting with discrete attacks (12-1-2) also fared better (p less than 0.05) than those presenting with chronic pain (5-0-5). The other eight patients (two women, six men, median age 28) had chronic pancreatitis proven by pancreatography and surgical biopsy. In this group, treatment by sphincteroplasty of the accessory papilla failed, and seven patients eventually required a pancreaticojejunostomy (3), distal pancreatectomy (2), or total pancreatectomy (2). In pancreas divisum, pancreatitis is caused by stenosis at the accessory papilla of Santorini. There may be progression from recurrent acute pancreatitis to irreversible fibrosis in some cases. Sphincteroplasty is effective for recurrent acute pancreatitis, but ductal drainage or resection becomes necessary once chronic pancreatitis is established. A preoperative test for stenosis of the accessory papilla is needed to identify patients whose symptoms are genuinely caused by their pancreas divisum.     

Pancreas divisum--a rare cause of chronic pancreatitis

Pancreas divisum (P.D.) is a congenital anatomic variant, characterized by the nonunion of dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts. A 20 years old man followed for 8 years with reccurent abdominal pain and relapsing acute pancreatitis develope chronic calcific pancreatitis. He was diagnosed with P.D. on endoscopic retrograde pancreatography and operative pancreatography. The patient was treated with longitudinal pancreatico-jejunostomy (PUESTOW-GILLESBY procedure). His pain resolved following surgical drainage of the pancreatic duct. Evaluation of the clinical course of this patient and critical review of other such cases in the literature support the role of compromised ductal drainage of the pancreas in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis in P.D.     

Recurrent pseudocysts and pancreatitis after trauma: a complication of pancreas divisum

Two patients are described who developed pancreatitis and recurrent pseudocysts after minimal trauma. Both had the congenital anomaly of pancreas divisum, and neither responded to surgical therapy appropriate to patients with normal anatomy. Both patients eventually required excision of the entire dorsal portion of the pancreas for relief. Patients with pancreatitis and pseudocysts should undergo endoscopic pancreatography immediately before surgery to aid in the definition of appropriate surgical therapy.     

Blunt injury of the neck of the pancreas: a report of nine patients

Nine patients with injury of the neck of the pancreas following blunt abdominal injury are reported. Eight were sustained in road traffic accidents and only two victims had used seatbelts. Serious associated injuries were present in four patients and the pancreatic injury was missed in two patients. The diagnosis of this injury was made at laparotomy in six, while one patient had the diagnosis confirmed at endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). The neck of the pancreas was the site of injury in all nine cases. Pancreatic drainage (3), suture repair (1) and distal resection with splenectomy (2) were the operative procedures performed. Pseudocyst of the pancreas (2), pancreatic fistulas (2), pancreatitis (1) and ascites (1), which necessitated a further laparotomy, accounted for postoperative morbidity. There was one postoperative death from haemorrhage due to stress ulceration. This study emphasizes that the neck of the pancreas is at special risk following blunt abdominal injury.     

Non-fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts

Non-fusion of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts is an anomaly of the ductal system of the pancreas; no connection between the ventral and the dorsal pancreatic ducts. The pancreas, however, keeps normal shape examined by US, CT, and laparotomy. The dorsal pancreatography through the accessory papilla is essential in diagnosis of non-fusion, because the short pancreatic duct through the main papilla is sometimes observed in chronic pancreatitis, anomalous defect of the distal pancreas, pancreatic cancer, and cyst. The 30 cases of the non-fusion were experienced in our institute which were all confirmed by dorsal pancreatography; they were nearly half of the confirmed cases in Japan. The incidence is 0.5% in about 6000 endoscopic pancreatographies during 1969-1984. The age distribution is 25-79 year-old, the average 44.7, and 19 cases are male and 11 female. The pancreatitis-like pain is frequently observed in cases with non-fusion. The 13 cases, 43%, in our series complained of pancreatic pain (called P-group), but the other 17 did not (called non-P group). The age distribution, sex, and the incidence of alcohol intake, DM, gallstone diseases, however, are not different between these two groups. The figure of the ventral pancreatic duct was not characteristic in both groups. The obvious chronic pancreatitis (chronic dorsal pancreatitis) is only two even in P-group and none in non-P group. The pancreatitis-like pain may be occurred by the reason why the functionally lesser accessory papilla which is an only out-left of the larger dorsal pancreas in non-fusion could not adapt the over-load for the pancreas, for example by alcohol. The non-fusion of the pancreatic duct system is not a direct cause of pancreatitis but might be a disposition of it.     

Pancreatitis and pancreas divisum: aetiological and surgical considerations

It has been suggested that acute pancreatitis occurs more commonly in patients with pancreas divisum and that these patients may respond to surgery aimed at improving pancreatic ductal drainage. We have studied the incidence of pancreas divisum in patients referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP) and the results of surgical sphincteroplasty in a separate series of such patients. Twenty-three patients with pancreas divisum were identified among 336 successful pancreatograms (Group A), an incidence of 6.8%. The incidence of pancreas divisum in patients having ERCP for documented pancreatitis was 13% (11 of 86) compared with 4.8% (12 of 250) in those having ERCP for other indications. This difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). However, pancreas divisum was not the sole risk factor for pancreatitis in the majority of our patients; most also had one of the commonly recognized causes for their pancreatitis. There is dispute about the indications for surgery in patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis and pancreas divisum, but without any other risk factor. We have reviewed the results of operations on 13 patients with pancreas divisum (Group B) treated in four different hospitals. Surgical sphincteroplasty was carried out on 10 patients with documented pancreatitis and seven of these had good results. Three patients who had operations for pain without documented pancreatitis were not improved.     

Dorsal duct sphincterotomy is effective long-term treatment of acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum

Nonbiliary, nonalcoholic pancreatic inflammatory disease was investigated by biochemical investigation, ultrasonography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and secretin tests. Twenty-five consecutive cases were followed up for 12 months to 10 years after treatment of disease associated with pancreas divisum, diagnosed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Thirteen patients had no recurrence of acute pancreatitis after dorsal duct sphincterotomy alone, during long-term follow-up (mean, 54 months); one patient had recurrent pancreatitis during 33 months after failed sphincterotomy. Eight patients had variable results 12 months to 8 years (mean, 49 months) after dorsal duct sphincterotomy for pancreatic pain syndrome (without amylase elevation), three were pain free, and one had recurrent pancreatitis. For 10 years after dorsal duct sphincterotomy for chronic pancreatitis, one patient had no pain relief; after subtotal pancreatectomy and pancreaticojejunostomy of the dorsal duct, both for chronic pancreatitis, one patient each was pain free and normoglycemic after 54 and 12 months, respectively. Dorsal duct sphincterotomy alone is successful in achieving long-term freedom from recurrence of acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum. Pancreatic pain syndrome is not consistently improved by dorsal duct sphincterotomy. Chronic pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum should be treated by resection or drainage procedures, not by dorsal duct sphincterotomy.     

Pancreatographic findings in idiopathic acute pancreatitis

Background/purpose Despite extensive evaluation based on clinical history, biochemical tests, and noninvasive imaging studies, the cause of acute pancreatitis cannot be determined in 10 to 30% of patients, and a diagnosis of idiopathic acute pancreatitis is made. The purpose of this study was to clarify the pancreatographic findings in patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis.Methods Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in 34 patients with idiopathic acute pancreatitis, and the pancreatographic findings were examined. Patency of the accessory pancreatic duct was examined by dye-injection endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) in 16 of the 34 patients.Results In 11 patients (32%), the following anatomic abnormalities of the pancreatic or biliary system were demonstrated: complete pancreas divisum (n = 5), incomplete pancreas divisum (n = 2), high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts (n = 2), choledochocele (n = 1), and giant periampullary diverticulum (n = 1). Pancreatographic findings were normal in 17 patients. Eleven of these patients were examined by dye-injection ERP, and all were found to have nonpatent accessory pancreatic duct.Conclusions Anatomic abnormality of the pancreatic or biliary system is one of the major causes of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Closure of the accessory pancreatic duct may play a role in the development of idiopathic acute pancreatitis in patients with a normal pancreaticobiliary ductal system.     

Double anastomoses to jejunum of dissected pancreas portions in pancreas divisum

The effectiveness of operation for pancreas divisum in patients who exhibit unexplained upper abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis is often uncertain. Here we report a successful operation in a patient whose two dissected pancreas portions were anastomosed with the looped jejunum. The patient was a 31-year-old woman who had suffered from continuous upper abdominal pain and relapsing pancreatitis for 10 years. She had a history of excessive alcohol intake from the age of 19–25 years. When she was 24 years old, endoscopic retrograde pancreatography had been performed, revealing pancreas divisum. Thereafter, various treatments had been performed, endoscopic accessory papillotomy; the administration of an anti-secretagogue, a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist; and cannulation of a stent tube into the dorsal pancreatic duct. Each of these treatments led to only short-lived relief of the symptoms. When she was 31 years old, the following operation was performed: The pancreas was cut off at the portal vein and the jejunum was pulled up via the retrocolic route; the two dissected pancreas portions were double-anastomosed with the jejunum by an end-to-side procedure. The postoperative course has been smooth. Fifteen months after the operation, the patient has gained 4 kg in weight and is symptom-free.     

Conservative pancreatectomy

By convention, resection of the proximal pancreas includes the distal stomach (and duodenum) and resection of the distal pancreas includes the spleen. In 28 patients the stomach and spleen were preserved to minimize functional disability. In 13 patients with proximal pancreatectomy (7 men, median age 39 years) the pylorus and first 3 cm of duodenum were preserved. Indications were chronic pancreatitis (n = 9) and localized neoplasia (ampulla 2, duodenum 1, insulinoma 1). One patient died (aged 81 years), and 2 required re-operation for a pancreatic abscess or stenosed choledochojejunostomy. The 12 survivors are well at a median of 1.25 years (range 0.25-3.25 years). In 15 patients with distal pancreatectomy (6 men, median age 44 years) the spleen was preserved. Indications were islet cell tumour in 2 and chronic abdominal pain in 13,9 of whom had an isolated dorsal pancreas and 6 of whom had histological evidence of chronic pancreatitis. Recovery was uneventful apart from 2 patients with a fluid collection in the lesser sac, 1 needing percutaneous aspiration. In the absence of gross inflammatory adherence, partial pancreatectomy need not entail removal of the adjacent stomach or spleen.     

On-table pancreatography: importance in planning operative strategy

We describe our experience with 124 on-table pancreatograms performed during 117 operative procedures on 112 patients in a wide variety of clinical settings. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed on 84 occasions with a 73 per cent success rate for visualization of the main pancreatic duct. On-table pancreatography (OTP) was performed by one of five different techniques: retrograde, prograde or ambigrade ductography, cystography and ascending loopography after pancreaticojejunostomy. OTP provided important information about the main pancreatic duct when endoscopic visualization was unsuccessful (n = 23), incomplete (n = 17) or not performed (n = 33); there was a failure rate of 4 per cent. In 35 patients either the additional information or discrepancies between ERCP and OTP findings resulted in a change of operative plan (19 extra procedures, 16 altered procedures). Complete ductography was especially helpful in the 63 patients with chronic pancreatitis. OTP is technically simple, free from complications and invaluable for planning operative strategy.     

Safety of operation in biliary pancreatitis during the same hospitalization.

Over the past 4 years, 61 patients with biliary pancreatitis were managed, 48 of whom had operation on the biliary tree within the same hospital admission. Initial therapy was medical and operation was performed at a median of 6 days from admission (range: 3-14 days). Two patients required surgery for non-resolution of the pancreatitis, but the other 44 patients had clinical and biochemical resolution prior to surgery. At operation, oedematous-interstitial pancreatitis was found in 18 patients, necrotizing pancreatitis in two and a normal pancreas in 28 patients. Common duct exploration in 15 patients resulted in 10 positive explorations. One death occurred in a patient with necrotizing pancreatitis and an impacted stone, but overall morbidity was low and total hospitalization in the operated group averaged 12 days. There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of bile duct stones (five of 10 versus seven of 38, P = 0.019) and operative findings of pancreatitis (seven of 10 versus 11 of 38, P = 0.038) in patients having surgery before or after 4 days of hospitalization. Initial conservative management for 4 days allows resolution of pancreatitis in most patients, minimizing the need for and potential risk from common duct exploration.     

Postobstructive chronic pancreatitis: results with distal resection

HYPOTHESIS: For most patients with chronic obstructive pancreatitis, distal pancreatectomy confers pain relief. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. Follow-up was complete in 80% of study subjects (mean follow-up, 6.7 years). SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Among 484 patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing operation from 1976 to 1997, 40 with postobstructive chronic pancreatitis were identified. Criteria for selection included an isolated, dominant major pancreatic duct stricture or cutoff, changes of chronic pancreatitis in the distal pancreas, and ostensibly normal parenchyma without calcification in the proximal gland. The patients were reviewed with regard to operative procedure, postoperative course, and outcome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included degree of pain relief, morbidity and mortality of operation, survival, rates of endocrine and exocrine insufficiency, and ability to return to work and/or normal activities. RESULTS: All but 1 of the 40 patients had abdominal pain, and 20 (50%) had recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. Suspicion of malignancy was a concern in 16 patients (40%). Thirty-eight patients underwent distal pancreatectomy; 1 had a central resection and another a Roux-en-Y cystojejunostomy. There was no operative mortality, but significant morbidity occurred in 15%. Among 31 patients with preoperative pain in whom long-term follow-up was available, complete or significant pain relief was achieved in 25 (81%); 74% returned to normal social function, but about half had some element of pancreatic insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Distal pancreatectomy is a safe procedure and achieves pain relief and good quality of life in a large percentage of patients (80%) with presumed postobstructive chronic pancreatitis. However, some of these patients with chronic pancreatitis involving the entire gland have disease masquerading as postobstructive chronic pancreatitis secondary to an ostensibly isolated dominant pancreatic ductal stricture.     

Pancreatitis After a Primary and Secondary Excision of Congenital Choledochal Cysts

Purpose Pancreatitis has been reported long after total choledochal cyst excision. The aim of this study was to determine if the disease process of postoperative pancreatitis differs between a primary and secondary cyst excision in a long-term follow-up. Methods Among 53 postoperative patients who underwent a total cyst excision and were followed up, 44 patients underwent a primary cyst excision (primary excision group), while 9 patients underwent a secondary cyst excision after a previous cyst-duodenostomy for internal drainage (secondary excision group). The long-term clinical course, including the pancreatographic findings after a total cyst excision, was compared. Results In the primary excision group, six patients had mild pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography demonstrated ductal dilatation that was limited to the common channel in two patients, concurrent with the ventral duct in three, and extended the duct of Santorini in three. Conservative treatments were carried out in three patients, and endoscopic irrigation in one patient with protein plugs in the ventral duct. A resection of the choledochal remnant in the pancreas was performed in two patients with choledochal remnant-associated pancreatitis. From the secondary excision group, 5 of the 9 patients had chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed entire pancreatic ductal dilatation. Two of these patients underwent duodenal papilloplasty at the same time as secondary surgery; however, the disease progressively worsened. Conclusion In patients undergoing a secondary total excision after internal drainage, it is difficult to half the ongoing aggravating process in pancreatitis.     

Pancreatic intubation ifn pancreas divisum

AIM: Long-term results of endoscopic pancreatic stenting in pancreas divisum is still debated. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of dorsal duct stenting in patients presenting with acute recurrent pancreatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 1998, among 34 patients presenting with recurrent acute pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum, 21 were treated by pancreatic stenting during a mean time of 11 months. There were 13 men and eight women (mean age: 50 years). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 50 (range 11-105) months. The number of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis before pancreatic stenting, at the end of stenting and at the end of the follow-up was respectively 21/21 (100%), 2/19 (10%) and 2/18 (11%) (P < 0.01). The number of patients presenting with chronic pain before stenting, at the end of stenting and at the end of the follow-up was respectively 17/21 (80%), 6/19 (31%) and 5/18 (27%) (P = 0.07). The overall morbidity rate was 8/21 patients (38%) including mainly acute pancreatitis (three cases); all but one complication were managed conservatively. CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreas divisum, dorsal duct stenting decreases the rate of recurrent acute pancreatitis but the improvement of chronic pain appears less obvious.     

Use of bromthymol blue, a pH indicator, for detecting the pancreatic duct orifice after resection of the head of the pancreats

Postoperative pancreatography after resection of the head of the pancreas often provides important morphologic information. However, the orifice of the residual pancreatic duct is often difficult to detect endoscopically. We evaluated the use of bromthymol blue (BTB), a pH indicator that changes color from orange to a purplish-blue when exposed to alkaline conditions, to assist in the detection of the postoperative orifice. Pancreatography was performed in 46 patients who underwent resection of the head of the pancreas, and the utility of BTB in identifying the orifice of the pancreatic duct during endoscopy was studied. Twenty-one patients underwent endoscopy with the use of BTB. The series consisted of 8 patients who had received a pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with a pancreaticogastrostomy (PPPD-PG), 6 patients who had had pyloruspreserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with a pancreaticojejunostomy (PPPD-PJ), and 7 patients who had undergone a duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas with a pancreaticoduodenostomy (DPPHR-PD). The remaining 25 patients underwent conventional pancreatography without the use of BTB. This group consisted of 12 patients given a PPPD-PG, 6 patients who had received a PPPD-PJ, and 7 patients who had undergone a DPPHR-PD. The success of the postoperative endoscopic pancreatography was compared in the two groups. In all 21 patients, postoperative pancreatography with BTB resulted in a success rate of 100%, compared to success in only 10 patients who had conventional endoscopy (success rate 40%). This study demonstrated that the use of BTB significantly enhanced the success rate of endoscopic retrograde pancreatography after resection of the head of the pancreas.     

以胰腺肿块为特征的慢性胰腺炎的外科治疗

目的 总结以胰腺肿块为特征的慢性胰腺炎的诊治经验. 方法回顾分析1999年6月至2009年6月28例外科治疗的肿块型慢性胰腺炎的临床病理资料. 结果 28例肿块型慢性胰腺炎术前诊断为胰腺癌19例,慢性胰腺炎9例,针吸活检和/或术后病理证实均为慢性胰腺炎;临床表现包括上腹痛22例,黄疸15例,十二指肠梗阻4例.手术方式包括胰十二指肠切除术17例,胆肠吻合3例,胰肠吻合1例,保留十二指肠的胰头切除术4例,胰体尾切除3例.本组无手术死亡病例,术后发症包括胰漏2例,重度胃瘫2例,应激性胃溃疡大出血1例.所有患者均获得随访,随访时间6月至5年,7例2年后腹痛复发;术后8月、2年各发现癌变1例.结论 肿块型慢性胰腺炎与胰腺癌术前鉴别困难,针吸活检是做出正确诊断的有效手段,但仍有漏/误诊的可能.需根据不同病情选择合理术式.     

Surgical treatment of pancreatic cysts]

The authors observed 103 cases of pancreatic cysts caused by acute pancreatitis, aggravation of chronic pancreatitis (81.0%) and trauma to the pancreas (12.0%). The posttraumatic cysts were more common in children and young adults (86.0%). The use of the complex method of diagnosis (x-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract, celiacography, and upper mesentericography, endoscopic pancreatography, ultrasound echolocation of the pancreas) allowed to establish the diagnosis in 91.6% of cases. The external drainage of the cysts was carried out in cases of infected cysts with poorly formed walls. In case of a dilated and deformed main pancreatic duct with disorder of its patency (21 cases) the longitudinal cystopancreatojejunostomy was performed. The lethality after internal drainage constituted 2.4%. 80.8% of patients showed good long-term results of the treatment and 14.4%--showed fair results. 2 patients (2.1%) developed the recurrence of the cyst.     

Results after pancreatic resection for metastatic lesions

Background Unlike primary pancreatic carcinoma, isolated metastatic lesions to the pancreas are uncommon. Although the value of surgical resection is poorly documented, resection may be deemed appropriate in selected cases. The aim of this study was to review our experience with the operative management of pancreatic metastases Methods Sixteen patients who underwent pancreatic resection for the treatment of metastatic disease were identified from a prospective pancreatic database. The clinical features of and results after resection were examined. Results Renal cell carcinoma was the most frequent primary histopathology (10 of 16; 62%). In the remaining patients, the primary histopathology was non-small-cell lung cancer (n=3), sarcoma (n=1), melanoma (n=1), or transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (n=1). A prolonged disease-free interval (median, 7.5 years) was characteristic of most patients. Operative procedures performed included eight pancreaticoduodenectomies, seven distal pancreatectomies, and one total pancreatectomy. The operative mortality was 6%, and the morbidity was 25%. The overall 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 62% and 25%, respectively. A trend toward improved survival was observed in the renal cell carcinoma patients, but this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusions Long-term survival after pancreatic resection for metastatic disease is achievable, and patients with primary renal cell carcinoma seem to have a more favorable prognosis. Surgical resection should thus be offered to selected patients with isolated metastatic disease to the pancreas.     

Invasive carcinoma of the pancreas derived from intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma without mucin hypersecretion but with changes in the pancreatic duct on pancreatography

We present a case of invasive carcinoma of the pancreas derived from intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma without mucin hypersecretion in a 65-year-old man with a 45-year history of alcohol abuse and a 2-year follow-up of chronic pancreatitis. Two years previously, in May 1998, he was admitted for investigation of abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed diffuse dilation of the main pancreatic duct with atrophy of the pancreatic parenchyma. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) showed a diffusely dilated main pancreatic duct with irregular side branches in the head of the pancreas. Chronic alcoholic pancreatitis was diagnosed on the basis of the pancreatography findings. The patient was readmitted for investigation of progressive weight loss in August 2000. Serum CA19-9 levels were markedly elevated (750 U/ml) and CT showed enlargement of the head and body of the pancreas. ERP showed irregularity of the main pancreatic duct in the head of the pancreas, and the distal main pancreatic duct (which was dilated on initial ERP examination) was interrupted in the body of the pancreas. Suspected pancreatic carcinoma was diagnosed, and pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Frozen section examination of the cut end of the pancreas revealed ductal carcinoma, and total pancreatoduodenectomy with portal vein resection was performed. Histologically, the resected tumor was diagnosed as an invasive carcinoma derived from intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma without mucin hypersecretion. We recommend observing changes in the pancreatic duct on pancreatography to diagnose invasive carcinoma of the pancreas derived from intraductal papillary adenocarcinoma in a resectable state. Received: February 6, 2002 / Accepted: June 10, 2002 Offprint requests to: S. Ariizumi