High Confluence of Pancreaticobiliary Ducts with the Frequent Recurrence of Acute Pancreatitis.

We encountered a case demonstrating a high confluence of the pancreaticobiliary ducts with frequent acute pancreatitis recurrence in the absence of alcohol consumption and gallstones. The patient presented to our hospital after 12 acute pancreatitis episodes and was subsequently admitted with acute pancreatitis which was diagnosed to be severe by computed tomography grade according to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare severity criteria 2008. After recovery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed an 8-mm common duct only during papillary sphincter relaxation; therefore, a high confluence of the pancreaticobiliary ducts was diagnosed. No recurrence of pancreatitis was observed after extrahepatic cholangiectomy or cholecystectomy. A high confluence of the pancreaticobiliary ducts should be considered when patients present with recurrent pancreatitis. Additionally, surgery should also be considered in such cases.