Gastroesophageal junction pancreatic heterotopia/metaplasia: a case series
Abstract
Abstract Gastroesophageal junction pancreatic heterotopia is an uncommon congenital condition where pancreatic tissue is present outside its normal anatomical location. We present a case series of four patients who have presented with nonspecific, vague gastrointestinal symptoms that included abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and heartburn. Endoscopy was performed and revealed irregular Z-lines in three out of the four patients, with high suspicion of Barrett’s esophagus. Further histopathologic evaluation confirmed ectopic pancreatic tissue in all four patients, two of whom had mild chronic inflammation, another presented with chronic gastritis as well as reflux esophagitis, and the last patient exhibited intestinal metaplasia. Also, three patients were treated with proton pump inhibitors and were kept under constant surveillance, while one patient was lost to follow-up. Pancreatic heterotopia involving the gastroesophageal junction is a rare presentation that usually goes unnoticed due to its asymptomatic nature. It is important that clinicians recognize such presentations to provide optimal treatment.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
- A new aging measure captures morbidity and mortality risk across diverse subpopulations from NHANES IV: A cohort study
- Fruit, vegetable, and legume intake, and cardiovascular disease and deaths in 18 countries (PURE): a prospective cohort study
- Are noise and air pollution related to the incidence of dementia? A cohort study in London, England
- Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children — a nationwide cohort study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.