Various Phenotypes of Ectopic Pancreatic Tissue in Children: Case Series and Literature Review.

Background and Clinical Significance: Ectopic pancreatic tissue (EPT), an infrequently documented condition within the pediatric population, is often asymptomatic. When clinical manifestations do occur, their severity is contingent upon the location, size, and involvement of the adjacent mucosa. Case presentation: This is a case series study, involving six children aged 15 days-13 years diagnosed with EPT from a single institution. Five of the six cases presented with both EPT and ectopic gastric tissue, located at the site of Meckel's diverticulum, while one case presented EPT exclusively, which was localized in the duodenum I. A case of Littre's hernia was identified in a newborn. Two of the six cases experienced gastrointestinal bleeding. Due to limited data on EPT in children, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to integrate the findings of the case series. The review synthesized evidence on clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, phenotypic classifications, and management strategies. Articles were identified through searches on PubMed and publisher platforms such as Elsevier and Wiley Online Library, using keywords like "ectopic pancreatic tissue", "heterotopic pancreas", and "pediatric ectopic pancreas".

Conclusions

The identification of EPT continues to pose a diagnostic challenge, as the symptoms are nonspecific and can sometimes be life-threatening. Additionally, there are currently no specific paraclinical investigations available for this purpose. Histopathological evaluation remains crucial for establishing the diagnosis, which is often confirmed only after complications have arisen.