Circumportal pancreas: a clinicoradiological and embryological review

Circumportal pancreas is a congenital fusion anomaly of the pancreas where the pancreatic tissue from the uncinate process, anomalously encases the portal vein and/or the superior mesenteric vein. Depending upon the level of the pancreatic annulus the variant can be classified into three subtypes—suprasplenic, infrasplenic or mixed; and each subtype exhibits either an anteportal or retroportal main pancreatic duct. Limited literature is available on this intriguing anomaly primarily because of its relatively low prevalence in humans (published prevalence rates vary from 0.2 to 2.5 %), probable lack of awareness among medical professionals and its generally symptomless course. In an attempt to appraise the embryological basis, clinicoradiological manifestations and potential surgical implications of circumportal pancreas, literature published in English was searched using PubMed and information collated so as to provide up-to-date information on this relatively understudied entity. The anomaly by itself remains innocuous but its preoperative recognition in those undergoing pancreatic resection bears decisive influence on planning and selecting apposite surgical resection planes as inadvertent duct injury can lead to pancreatic fistula.