Endoscopic approach through the minor papilla for the management of pancreatic diseases

AIM: To clarify the efficacy and safety of an endoscopic approach through the minor papilla for the management of pancreatic diseases.METHODS: This study included 44 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures performed in 34 patients using a minor papilla approach between April 2007 and March 2012. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical profiles of the patients, the endoscopic interventions, short-term outcomes, and complications.RESULTS: Of 44 ERCPs, 26 were diagnostic ERCP, and 18 were therapeutic ERCP. The most common cause of difficult access to the main pancreatic duct through the major papilla was pancreas divisum followed by distortion of Wirsung’s duct. The overall success rate of minor papilla cannulation was 80% (35/44), which was significantly improved by wire-guided cannulation (P = 0.04). Endoscopic minor papillotomy (EMP) was performed in 17 of 34 patients (50%) using a needle-knife (13/17) or a pull-type papillotome (4/17). EMP with pancreatic stent placement, which was the main therapeutic option for patients with chronic pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic pseudocyst, resulted in short-term clinical improvement in 83% of patients. Mild post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred as an early complication in 2 cases (4.5%).CONCLUSION: The endoscopic minor papilla approach is technically feasible, safe, and effective when the procedure is performed in a high-volume referral center by experienced endoscopists.     

ENDOSCOPIC APPROACH TO THE MINOR DUODENAL PAPILLA: SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT ON PANCREAS DIVISUM

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the minor duodenal papilla including standardized technique was reviewed. In cases in which a pancreatogram is not achieved or those in which only a small portion of the ductal anatomy is visualized via the major duodenal papilla, cannulation of the minor papilla provides a second route of access to the ductal system. Successful minor papilla cannulation requires meticulous attention to technique. As the orifice of the minor papilla is usually of pinpoint size, needle‐tipped catheters are useful. As minor papilla cannulation in pancreas divisum carries the risk of severe pancreatitis, the procedure should be performed with more caution. In some patients with pancreas divisum, an increased resistance to flow across the small orifice results in dorsal pancreatic duct hypertension and clinical symptoms including acute recurrent pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatic‐type pain. Pancreas divisum patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis are the best candidates for endoscopic management for dorsal‐duct decompression including endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and stenting.     

Endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement for inflammatory pancreatic diseases

The role of endoscopic therapy in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuously evolving; at present most pathological conditions of the pancreas are successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography （ERCP） or endoscopic ultrasound （EUS）, or both. Endoscopic placement of stents has played and still plays a major role in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, pseudocysts, pancreas divisum, main pancreatic duct injuries, pancreatic fistulae, complications of acute pancreatitis, recurrent idiopathic pancreatitis, and in the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis. These stents are currently routinely placed to reduce intraductal hypertension, bypass obstructing stones, restore lumen patency in cases with dominant, symptomatic strictures, seal main pancreatic duct disruption, drain pseudocysts or fluid collections, treat symptomatic major or minor papilla sphincter stenosis, and prevent procedure-induced acute pancreatitis. The present review aims at updating and discussing techniques, indications, and results of endoscopic pancreatic duct stent placement in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pancreas.     

Endoscopic papillectomy of minor papillar adenoma associated with pancreas divisum

Tumors of the minor papilla of the duodenum are quite rare. We successfully and safely treated an 18-mm adenoma of the minor papilla associated with pancreas divisum using endoscopic papillectomy. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for treatment of an asymptomatic mass in the minor papilla detected by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endscopic analysis showed an 18-mm, whitish, sessile mass, located in the duodenum proximal to a normal-appearing major papilla. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography did not reveal the pancreatic duct. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed a lack of the ventral pancreatic duct. We suspected this case was associated with pancreatic divisum; therefore, we performed endoscopic papillectomy of the minor papilla tumor. Subsequently, endoscopic pancreatic stent placement in the minor papilla was done to prevent drainage disturbance. The patient has been asymptomatic without recurrence of tumor or stenosis of the Santorini orifice upon endoscopic examination for the past 2 years.     

Elevated pressure in the dorsal part of pancreas divisum: the cause of chronic pancreatitis?

In 6 patients with upper abdominal pain of unknown origin presenting with pancreas divisum, the pressure in the pancreatic duct was measured via the minor papilla into which in these patients the main part of the pancreatic duct system drains. For comparison intraductal manometry via the major papilla (papilla of Vater) was performed in 8 patients with normal pancreatic duct system. The pressure in the pancreatic duct of the control group was 10.5 +/- 0.9 mm Hg, whereas in the patients with pancreas divisum it was 23.7 +/- 1.3 mm Hg. The results demonstrate that in patients with pancreas divisum, intraductal pressure may be largely increased even in the fasting state.     

Endoscopic ultrasound and pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum is the most common congenital anatomic variation of the pancreatic ductal anatomy and in most of the individuals it is asymptomatic. However, in minority of individuals it is presumed to cause recurrent acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is the gold standard for its diagnosis, but is invasive and associated with significant adverse effects. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows the detailed evaluation of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system without injecting contrast in these ducts. Moreover, it provides detailed images of the parenchyma also. Therefore EUS, both radial and linear, has potential for being a minimally invasive diagnostic modality for pancreas divisum. A number of EUS criteria have been suggested for the diagnosis of pancreas divisum. These criteria have varying sensitivity and specificity and hence there is a need for objective and uniform criteria that have the best diagnostic accuracy. Secretin EUS has a potential for diagnosing minor papilla stenosis and thus help in planning appropriate therapy. EUS guided pancreatic duct interventions can help in draining dorsal duct in symptomatic patients with failed minor papilla cannulation. But these techniques are technically demanding and associated with potential severe complications.     

Clinical experience in 82 patients with pancreas divisum: preliminary results of manometry and endoscopic therapy

Although it is clear that the majority of patients with pancreas divisum have no clinical disease, there is a subset of patients who have either unexplained abdominal pain or recurrent pancreatitis. Endoscopic therapy of the minor papilla may alter the clinical course of those patients with pancreas divisum and recurrent pancreatitis. Manometric study of the minor papilla is feasible and reveals a sphincter mechanism similar to the major papilla. Clinical response to endoscopic therapy may aid in selecting patients who might benefit from surgical sphincteroplasty. Refinement of manometric study of the minor papilla offers a potential method of detecting functional obstruction of dorsal duct drainage.     

Preliminary experience with endoscopic stent placement in benign pancreatic diseases

We treated 35 patients with endoscopic stent placement across the major or minor papilla in an attempt to relieve suspected partial obstruction to pancreatic duct drainage in patients with pancreatitis. The patients subsequently have been followed for periods ranging from 6 months to 3 years (mean, 14 months). Endoscopic stents were successfully placed across the minor papilla in 19 of 22 patients with pancreas divisum associated with acute recurrent pancreatitis (19) and severe abdominal pain (3). 17 patients had symptomatic improvement manifested by a decrease in frequency of attacks of pain and emergency admission. Stents were placed through the major papilla in 14 of 15 patients with recurrent pancreatitis related to a variety of causes. 8 of the 14 patients improved during the follow-up period, including 4 of 5 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis complicated by a segmental stricture.     

Adenoma of the minor papilla associated with pancreas divisum

Tumors of the minor papilla of the duodenum are quite rare. We report the first documented case of an adenoma of the minor papilla complicating pancreas divisum. A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of an asymptomatic duodenal tumor detected by computed tomography scan. Endoscopy showed an 18-mm, whitish-colored, sessile mass located in the descending duodenum proximal to a normal appearing major papilla. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed divisum of the pancreas with dilatation of pancreatic duct ranged in the dorsal pancreas. Transduodenal minor papillectomy was performed because there is malignant potential of the tumor and the possibility of acute pancreatitis. The Santorini orifice was then re-approximated to the duodenal wall for protection against acute pancreatitis caused by scarring and stenosis of the duct orifice as a possible late complication. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and she has been asymptomatic without evidence of tumor recurrence or stenosis of the Santorini orifice on endoscopic examination for the last 4 years.     

Endoscopic resection of adenoma of the minor papilla

Tumors of the minor papilla of the duodenum are rare. We successfully and safely treated a 16 mm sessile adenoma of the minor papilla using endoscopic resection. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) yielded a normal cholangiopancreatogram with blind termination of the duct of Santorini in the minor papilla. We recommend endoscopic resection and histological examination of the entire lesion for adenomas of the minor papilla in patients without pancreas divisum.     

Long-term results of endoscopic management of pancreas divisum with recurrent acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The long-term efficacy of endoscopic treatment in pancreas divisum is controversial. This study evaluated the long-term results of dorsal duct stent insertion and endoscopic sphincterotomy of the minor papilla in patients presenting with recurrent acute pancreatitis or chronic pain. METHODS: Pancreas divisum was diagnosed in 175 patients between 1980 and 1998. Twenty-four patients seen with recurrent acute pancreatitis without underlying chronic calcifying pancreatitis or significant alcohol consumption were included in this study with a follow-up of at least 24 months. Eight were treated by sphincterotomy of the minor papilla alone, and 16 underwent dorsal duct stent insertion for a median duration of 8 months. RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up after endoscopic management was 39 months (range 24-105; interquartile range 40.5). All patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis before endoscopic treatment during a median period of 5 years. At the end of the follow-up there were only 2 recurrences of acute pancreatitis (p < 0.01). The number of patients with chronic pain before endoscopic treatment and at the end of follow-up decreased from 20 of 24 (83%) to 7 of 24 (29%) without reaching statistical significance. The 25% recurrence rate was estimated at 50 months by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Nine patients presented with a dilated dorsal duct before endoscopic treatment. After stent insertion, dorsal duct dilatation appeared in all 16 patients who underwent stent placement, and pancreatic duct stenosis developed in 3. Four patients (19%) required further treatment for pain recurrence or acute pancreatitis, with surgical procedures being performed in 2 cases. Complications occurred in 9 of 24 patients (38%), mainly acute pancreatitis or stenosis of the minor papilla. All complications except one were managed conservatively. Complications seemed to be less frequent after minor papilla sphincterotomy than after pancreatic stent insertion (25% vs. 44%). CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreas divisum, both dorsal duct stent insertion and minor papilla sphincterotomy decrease the rate of recurrent acute pancreatitis, whereas relief of chronic pain was less obvious.     

Endoscopic botulinum toxin injection into the minor papilla for treatment of idiopathic recurrent pancreatitis in patients with pancreas divisum.

BACKGROUND: In some patients with pancreas divisum, obstruction to the flow of pancreatic juice into the duodenum is the presumptive cause of acute recurrent pancreatitis. However, identification of those patients who may benefit from minor papilla sphincterotomy or stent placement is difficult. METHODS: Five patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis and pancreas divisum were therefore treated by endoscopic injection of 50 units of botulinum toxin into the minor papilla in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: Botulinum toxin injection was successfully performed on six occasions in 5 patients and no adverse effects were noted. Two patients relapsed after 9 and 10 months, respectively, but had definite relief of symptoms after needle-knife sphincterotomy. One patient relapsed 7 months after botulinum toxin injection but became symptom free again after a second botulinum toxin injection. Another patient is still in clinical remission 4 months after botulinum toxin administration, and 1 patient did not respond to either botulinum toxin administration or to sphincterotomy and stent placement. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin into the minor papilla in patients with pancreas divisum and acute recurrent pancreatitis is a safe procedure that is easy to perform and provides short-term relief in some patients. Response to botulinum toxin injection may predict whether patients with pancreas divisum and acute recurrent pancreatitis will benefit from other forms of endoscopic therapy.     

Use of methylene blue to identify the minor papilla or its orifice in patients with pancreas divisum

BACKGROUND: In some patients with pancreas divisum, minor papilla cannulation is difficult because of uncertain identification of the papilla or its orifice, even after pancreatic secretory stimulation with secretin or cholecystokinin agonist. METHODS: Two techniques with methylene blue were used to identify the minor papilla and its orifice more clearly in a series of patients: spraying methylene blue over duodenal mucosa in the region suspected to contain the minor papilla with/without secretin or cholecystokinin agonist administration, and injection of contrast medium containing methylene blue into the ventral pancreatic duct by means of the major papilla in cases of incomplete pancreas divisum. Results were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: From January 2001 to May 2002, minor papilla cannulation with conventional methods initially failed in 38 of 305 patients with pancreas divisum because of an inconspicuous minor papilla orifice. Methylene blue was used to identity the minor papilla orifice in 14 of 38 patients (spraying, 13; injection, 1). Minor papilla cannulation was successful in 12 of 14 (86%) patients (spraying 11, injection 1). Mild pancreatitis developed in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Methylene blue spraying or injection appears to be a helpful technique for identification of the inconspicuous minor papilla orifice in patients with pancreas divisum.     

Endoscopic pancreatic drainage in chronic pancreatitis

A nasopancreatic drain, pancreatic duct endoprostheses, and pancreatic stone extraction were used to treat 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis. Thirty patients were treated endoscopically. Endoscopic treatment via the minor papilla in 2 patients with pancreas divisum was not performed. Three patients had subsequent surgery because of complications; one of them died. Seventeen patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis improved, with 15 patients asymptomatic during a follow-up of 2 to 69 months (median, 11). Seven of 10 patients with chronic pain improved, with 6 patients pain-free during a follow-up of 10 to 34 months (median, 11). In 7 patients, pancreatic pseudocysts could be drained endoscopically by positioning an endoprosthesis into the cyst or by performing a cystoduodenostomy. Six patients had concomitant placement of a biliary endoprosthesis to treat common bile duct strictures within the pancreatic head. One of 32 treated patients died as a result of a complication. We consider endoscopic therapy a viable alternative to surgery in select patients with chronic pancreatitis.     

State-art: diagnosis and management in pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum (PD), the most common congenital variant of pancreatic duct anatomy, occurs when the ductal systems of the ventral and dorsal pancreatic ducts fail to fuse during the second month of gestation. With non-union of the ducts, the major portion of the pancreatic exocrine secretion enters the duodenum by way of the dorsal duct and minor papilla. It has been generally accepted that a relative obstruction to pancreatic exocrine secretory flow through the minor duct and minor papilla could result in pancreatitis in small numbers of patients with PD. The debate whether PD causes pancreatitis continues, although most authorities agree that PD is a definite cause in a subgroup of patients. Most patients with PD and well-documented acute recurrent pancreatitis have responded favorably to surgical sphincteroplasty of the minor papilla. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the most common procedure for diagnosis PD in patients who have pancreatobiliary symptoms. MRCP is being increasingly used to establish the diagnosis and secretin stimulation can improve ductal images greatly. Endoscopic management of symptomatic patients with PD is evolving. Only a limited number of series are available, using endoscopic pancreatic stent placement, minor papilla endoscopic papillotomy, or both to decompress the dorsal duct in an effort to restore pancreatic exocrine secretory flow. Even with relatively small numbers of patients and a near absence of controlled, randomized trials, it appears that the patients most likely to benefit, as with surgery, are those with well-documented ARP rather than pain alone or chronic pancreatitis. Overall we recommend that pancreatic stenting and pancreatic sphincterotomy should be done only in large centers with experience in therapeutic ERCP. Further randomized trials would be of interest.     

内窥镜逆行胰胆管造影术对胰腺分裂症的诊断、治疗价值研究

目的:探讨内窥镜逆行胰胆管造影术(ERCP)对胰腺分裂症(PD)的诊断、治疗方法及其效果的价值。方法:回顾性分析本院2008年6月至2012年9月明确诊断的20例PD患者的临床表现、诊断及治疗方法,比较治疗前后患者的体重变化,用直观模拟标度尺(VAS)评分来评估腹痛症状改善的情况。结果:患者症状以腹痛为主,急性胰腺炎或慢性胰腺炎急性发作的发生率为75%。经ERCP确诊的患者中,磁共振胆胰管成像(MRCP)的检出率为24%。内镜下治疗包括行内镜下十二指肠主和(或)副乳头切开引流(95%)、胰管支架置入(65%)及鼻胰管引流(55%)。治疗后患者体重增加(P<0.05),疼痛VAS评分下降(P<0.05)。结论:PD患者主要症状为腹痛,急性胰腺炎或慢性胰腺炎急性发作的发生率较高,内镜下治疗可有效减少PD患者腹痛的程度并增加患者体重。     

胰腺分裂的内镜诊断

为了认识胰腺分裂及其临床意义，对２５００例经内镜逆行胰胆管造影（ＥＲＣＰ）检查中检出的３７例胰腺分裂患者资料进行回顾分析。３７例均经主、副乳头插管显示出腹胰管及背胰管，胆管显影１４例，显影率３７．８％。体会到胰腺分裂者ＥＲＣＰ时插胆管困难，并对胰腺分裂的ＥＲＣＰ诊断及临床意义进行了讨论     

Pancreatic tumor associated with pancreas divisum

BACKGROUND: Although there has been considerable controversy regarding pancreas divisum and pancreatitis, little discussion of this has taken place. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the relationship between these two conditions. METHODS: A retrospective investigation was undertaken of pancreatic tumors associated with pancreas divisum, in 650 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, 80 cases of intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas and 32 cases of pancreas divisum. RESULTS: Of these 32 cases, four (12.5%) were associated with pancreatic tumor: pancreatic carcinoma (n = 3) and intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (n = 1). All tumors developed from the dorsal pancreas of pancreas divisum. Periductal and interlobular fibrosis detected in the non-carcinomatous pancreas of the margin of distal pancreatectomy implied that chronic dorsal pancreatitis associated with pancreas divisum preceded carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic tumors were detected in 12.5% of cases of pancreas divisum. In pancreas divisum, longstanding pancreatic duct obstruction caused by relative stenosis of the minor duodenal papilla might be a factor promoting oncogenesis.     

胰腺分裂内镜治疗价值

目的探讨内镜下治疗胰腺分裂的疗效和安全性。方法收集2006年6月至2013年6月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院消化科就诊的8例胰腺分裂患者的临床资料,对术中及术后情况进行回顾性分析。结果8例胰腺分裂患者共行经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术28例次,均置入胰管支架,其中7例同时行副乳头括约肌切开术,6例行内镜下扩张术,1例行胰管取石术。术后出现1例次轻度胰腺炎。随访2～47个月,1例死于胰腺癌,3例已拔出支架,3例定期复查,1例失访。患者术后慢性胰腺炎急性发作频率及腹痛程度均较术前明显降低。结论内镜下治疗胰腺分裂安全有效,可减少胰腺炎发作频率,减轻术后腹痛程度,术后并发症发生率低。     

Intraductal papillary-mucinous adenoma developed in the ventral pancreas in a patient with pancreas divisum

A 34-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaints of back pain and epigastralgia. The physical examinations on admission disclosed no abdominal tumor. The serum concentration of total bilirubin was 1.4?mg/dl. The serum elastase-1 level was elevated to 526?ng/dl. Computed tomography showed a cystic lesion, 1?cm in diameter, in the head of the pancreas, without dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography via the papilla of Vater and the accessory papilla revealed an enlarged ventral pancreatic duct and pancreas divisum. The preoperative diagnosis was mucin-producing pancreatic tumor in the ventral pancreas of a patient with pancreas divisum. A pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. The gross findings of the cut surface of the resected specimen disclosed mural nodules in the dilated duct of the ventral pancreas. A histological examination of the mural nodules in the ventral pancreas revealed mucin and intraductal papillary adenoma. Benign tumors associated with pancreas divisum are rare; to the best of our knowledge, only three cases have been reported. Although in these three patients the tumor developed in the dorsal pancreas, the tumor developed in the ventral pancreas in our patient.