Chronic relapsing pancreatitis in childhood caused by pancreaticobiliary ductal anomaly.

Chronic relapsing pancreatitis is a rare childhood disease. Although various obstructive phenomena have been implicated in its etiology, few reports have described the role played by anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system. Recently, a patient with a complex anomalous ductal communication was treated by us for chronic relapsing pancreatitis. This particular anomaly, and its clinical presentation, has not previously appeared in the literature. The problems associated with the diagnosis and surgical management of this patient have prompted this report.