According to the Cleveland Clinic, "pancreas divisum is a common congenital disorder (a condition you’re born with) that causes your pancreatic duct to form atypically. Usually, it doesn’t prevent your pancreas from working as it should to help you digest food. Approximately 5% of people with pancreas divisum experience pancreatitis-like symptoms, like abdominal pain".
The human embryo begins life with two ducts in the pancreas, the ventral duct, and the dorsal duct. Normally, the two ducts will fuse together to form one main pancreatic duct; this occurs in more than 90% of embryos. In approximately 10% of embryos the ventral and dorsal ducts fail to fuse together, resulting in pancreas divisum. In utero, the majority of the pancreas is drained by the dorsal duct which opens up into the minor papilla. The ventral duct drains the minority of the pancreas and opens into the major papilla. In adults, however, this situation is reversed whereby 70% of the pancreas is drained by the ventral duct. Therefore, in pancreas divisum, where fusion of the ducts does not occur, the major drainage of the pancreas is done by the dorsal duct which opens up into the minor papilla.
A majority of individuals born with pancreas divisum will not have symptoms. In some cases, pancreas divisum is only detected during autopsy. A small group of individuals will develop symptoms which commonly include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and acute and chronic pancreatitis.
The most common and accurate way of diagnosing an individual with this anomaly is by MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) or ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). This test can demonstrate the presence of two separately draining ducts within the pancreas. Other tests can assist doctors with diagnoses, such as a CT scan and an MRI.
Pancreas divisum in individuals with no symptoms does not require treatment. Treatment of those with symptoms varies and has not been well established. A surgeon may attempt a Puestow procedure or sphincterotomy by cutting the minor papilla to enlarge the opening and allow pancreatic enzymes to flow normally. During surgery, a stent may be inserted into the duct to ensure that the duct will not close causing a blockage. This surgery can cause pancreatitis in patients, or in rare cases, kidney failure and death.
An ongoing, multicenter randomized clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health called SHARP (Sphincterotomy for Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis) is evaluating the role of ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograhy) in patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis who also have pancreas divisum.