New clinical aspects of pancreas divisum.

The clinical and pathogenetic features of pancreas divisum are surveyed on the basis of ERCP examination. This congenital anomaly of the pancreas can be distinguished from ductal obstruction on the basis of the radiographic configuration. In such patients the parenchyma of the pancreas can be properly evaluated only if the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts are visualized simultaneously. Pancreas divisum may be regarded as imposing an increased risk of supervening pancreatic diseases.