Two cases of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas and a review of the literature

Abstract Background Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas (ADP) is a very rare disease with no specific symptoms, and the pathogenesis is not clear. Some patients will be accompanied by other diseases, such as pancreatic tumor or pancreatitis. But most cases are very atypical and difficult to distinguish. Some syndromes of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency are common in patients with ADP. Here, we report two cases of ADP and summarize the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of ADP. Case presentation Case A is a 65-year-old Chinese woman who presented with abdominal pain accompanied by nausea, bloating and acid reflux. The enhanced abdominal CT scan found nothing meaningful except the absence of the body and tail of the pancreas. The diagnosis was considered as gastrointestinal dysfunction cause by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and recovered after symptomatic treatment. Case B is a 61-year-old Chinese woman who presented with abdominal pain accompanied by fever, vomiting and bloating. The abdominal CT showed multiple stones in the gallbladder, and the body and tail of the patient’s pancreas were absent. She was diagnosed with cholelithiasis and recovered after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Conclusion Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas (ADP) is a rare congenital disease with an unclear pathogenesis that presents multiple symptoms. It should be considered when the patients have non-specific, persistent and unexplained symptoms such as bloating or uncontrolled blood sugar. Imaging examination is helpful for diagnosis. And it does not require surgical intervention unless it accompanies other diseases, EPI need to be considered when the non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms appear.