Nicolas Roccatagliata;
Hospital Universitario CIMEC
Maria De Vedia;
Hospital Universitario CIMEC
Victor Larrañaga;
Hospital Universitario CIMEC
Background
To perform an iconographic review of the imaging findings in the main pathologies that affect the pancreatic duodenum groove.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
The pancreatic duodenum groove is a potential space limited by the pancreatic head, the inner face of the duodenum in its descending portion, and the distal common bile duct. It is basically composed of fat and it hosts rare but no less important diseases associated with the pancreas, duodenum, lymph nodes and bile duct. Among them we find duodenal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic tumors with extension to the groove, lymphoid nodular hyperplasia, extension of pancreatic inflammatory processes, metastases, tumors of the bile duct and neuroendocrine tumors such as gastrinoma.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
As radiologists, we must keep in mind the anatomy of the pancreatoduodenal groove in order to differentiate normal from pathological and recognize the different entities that affect it, with its imaging manifestations, mainly on CT and MRI, leading the acquisition of images based on our diagnostic suspicion to achieve adequate treatment.
Conclusion
The knowledge of the imaging findings of the diseases that compromise the pancreatic duodenal groove and their differential diagnoses, enable early diagnosis and timely therapeutic management.
