[Cystic dystrophy of aberrant pancreatic tissue in the duodenal wall. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems].

The authors report the case of a 28-year-old man with a cystic dystrophy of aberrant pancreatic tissue (C.D.A.P.T.) presenting with a history of major abdominal pain. First diagnosis was chronic pancreatitis because of clinical presentation, alcoholic intoxication, and the results of medical imaging techniques. A vagotomy associated with a gastroenterostomy was performed. Several years later the abdominal pain relapsed and failed to be cure by means of medical treatment. A duodenopancreatectomy was performed. Histology demonstrated the diagnosis of C.D.A.P.T. C.D.A.P.T. is a benign disease of the pancreas, limited to its cephalic portion, without demonstrated pathogenesis. C.D.A.P.T. can be either isolated or associated with a chronic pancreatitis. Clinical diagnosis can be particularly difficult as indicated by a literature review. Abdominal pain is the main symptom. Clinical presentation is rarely related to a complication (stenosis). Endoscopy, sonogram, and CAT scan are three techniques of diagnosis value, but intraluminal-sonography is more efficient. Tumor excision is not recommendable. Treatment of C.D.A.P.T. by duodeno-pancreatectomy (D.P.) is often indicated because of concurrent chronic pancreatitis or suspected pancreatic carcinoma. In case of clinical diagnosis of C.D.A.P.T., fenestration of the cysts under endoscopic control is the only local treatment that can avoid D.P.