Pancreas divisum--the role of ERCP in children.

Pancreas Divisum (PD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the pancreas leading to chronic pancreatitis in children. The best diagnostic procedure to establish this diagnosis is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Utilizing ERCP as a therapeutic modality (sphincterotomy, stone removal), enables the clinician to improve symptoms and reduce morbidity. In this report, we describe the clinical presentation and outcome of three children with chronic pancreatitis who were subsequently diagnosed with PD by ERCP. We recommend that ERCP should be considered in children with chronic pancreatitis of unknown etiology.