Ectopic pancreas in Meckel's diverticulitis: a description of a new clinical case [Pancreas ectopico nel diverticolo di Meckel: descrizione di un caso clinico.]

Abstract Ectopic pancreas is a rare congenital abnormality probably due to a derangement of embryologic development of digestive tract. Its frequency is reported in the literature between 0.5-14% predominantly distributed in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum. Such condition is extremely difficult to be diagnosed, in fact most of the case of ectopic pancreas are an accidental finding. We describe a case of ectopic pancreas located in the Meckel's diverticulum, resected at laparotomy performed for colonic disease. Although in retrospective review symptoms from ectopic pancreas are reported in up to 50% of the cases our patient was free of symptoms. In addition the finding of ectopic pancreas in Meckel's diverticulum has been described only seldom in the previous literature. Treatment however should always be resection in order to prevent complications that may occur, although rarely.