Pancreatoduodenectomy for groove pancreatitis. Report of two cases

Abstract

Groove pancreatitis is a rare condition with patients having clinical characteristics similar to those of chronic pancreatitis. Differentiating on clinical and radiological basis between groove pancreatitis and paraduodenal head cancer can be extremely challenging. Due to diagnostic uncertainty and to poor response to medical treatment surgery may offer these patients the best chance of cure. As the main localization of the inflammatory process is at the groove between the duodenum and the head of the pancreas, pancreato-duodenectomy is proposed as the most reliable surgical procedure. We report about two patients presenting with clinical and radiological features suggesting a groove pancreatitis in which control of symptoms was achieved by pancreatoduodenectomy.