New anatomical data on the drainage patterns of the uncinate process of the pancreas.

Purpose: Recently, progress has been made in the surgical management of benign pancreatic tumors sparing as much of the pancreatic parenchyma and pancreatic function as possible. However, the main complication of partial pancreatectomy is the disruption of pancreatic ducts ensuing leak of pancreatic secretion leading to the formation of pancreatic fistulae. In this study, we attempt to precisely define the anatomy of the branch duct draining the uncinate process which is of interest to the surgeons.

Methods: Seventeen formalin-fixed pancreases were taken and ducts were injected with a colored gelatin solution. Within the uncinate process of the pancreases, the branch duct was localized, measured and its anatomical drainage defined. Statistics were performed using Spearman's correlation test.

Results: The uncinate process was drained exclusively by the main pancreatic duct in ten cases, by the accessory pancreatic duct in three cases, and by both the ducts in four cases. All of the branches drained into the main pancreatic duct downstream to the junction between the main and the accessory pancreatic duct, except for one.

Conclusions: We have precised the possibility of double drainage of the uncinate process, but this could not be correlated with simple anatomical or radiological landmarks such as the length of the main pancreatic duct or the patency of the minor duodenal papilla.