[Radiologic study of aberrant pancreas of gastroduodenal topography. Apropos of 11 cases].

In connection with 11 observations of aberrant pancreas in the gastro-duodenal area, the authors review the general and radiological features of this pathology. In ten of the personal cases reported on, radiological examination allowed diagnosis following discovery of an intramural image centered around an umbilication. While not uncommon, pancreatic heterotopias are generally fortuitous findings due to the usual absence of clinical symptoms. They are small, and tend to occur in the digestive tract, especially in the antro-duodenal region. Possible complications include adenomatous transformation which may or may not be insulinogenic, cystic degeneration, cystenadenoma and carcinoma. Such complications are rare, however, and are generally not discovered before surgery. Radiological examinations were negative in 23,7% of the cases reviewed; while the typical image of a rounded filling defect centered around an umbilication is easy to diagnose, the value of radiology is considerably less when dealing with peduncular, subserous or complex forms. Although certain authors recommend only surveillance following radiological and endoscopic detection of a small aberrant pancreas, the majority of authors advise exeresis.