Pancreatic heterotopia--a rare cause of bowel obstruction.

Pancreatic heterotopia is a developmental anomaly. When it produces complications, symptoms depend on the site of the lesion and may reflect the whole range of pathology affecting pancreatic tissue. In the ileum, pancreatic heterotopia is usually associated with a Meckel's diverticulum and may cause intestinal obstruction by intussusception. Isolated ileal pancreatic rests are rare and usually are discovered incidentally during surgery for other conditions. A case of a polypoid mass in the ileum containing aberrant pancreatic tissue that had been causing recurrent small bowel obstruction is described. Resection and primary anastomosis were curative.