Endosonogragphic features of lesions suggesting gastric ectopic pancreas: experience of a single tertiary center

Authors: MAHMUT YÜKSEL, SABİTE KACAR, MUHAMMET YENER AKPINAR, FATİH SAYGILI, MERAL AKDOĞAN KAYHAN, SELÇUK DİŞİBEYAZ, YASEMİN ÖZİN, MUSTAFA KAPLAN, İHSAN ATEŞ, ERTUĞRUL KAYAÇETİN

Abstract: Background/aim: We aimed to present the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) features of gastric lesions suggesting gastric ectopic pancreas during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that were diagnosed in our gastroenterology unit, which is a tertiary center for endoscopic procedures in Turkey. Materials and methods: The data of patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal EUS in our center between April 2012 and July 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All of the lesions suggesting gastric ectopic pancreas were localized in the gastric antrum. Thirty-six of 44 lesions (81.1%) showed central dimpling. Lesion borders were shown to be definite in 10 (22.7%) lesions, whereas the borders of 34 lesions (77.3%) were indefinite. Thirty-nine lesions (88.6%) had heterogeneous and 5 lesions (11.4%) had homogeneous echo patterns; whereas 29 lesions (65.9%) were hypoechoic, 9 lesions (20.5%) were hyperechoic and 6 lesions (13.6%) had mixed echogenicity. Forty-two lesions (95.5%) were shown to affect only a single sonographic layer of the gastric wall. Conclusion: EUS features of lesions that strongly suggest gastric ectopic pancreas endoscopically, without any histopathological evidence and without either endoscopic or surgical resection, are as follows: indefinite border appearance, minimal heterogeneous hypoisoechoic echo pattern, existence of anechoic duct-like structures inside the lesion, common localization in the submucosal layer, and existence of umbilication.

Keywords: Aberrant pancreas, accessory pancreas, endoscopic ultrasound, heterotopic pancreas

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