Various Phenotypes of Ectopic Pancreatic Tissue in Children: Case Series and Literature Review

Background: /Objectives: Ectopic pancreatic tissue (EPT), an infrequently documented condition within the pediatric population, is often asymptomatic. When clinical manifestations do occur, their severity is contingent upon the location, size, and involvement of the adjacent mucosa. Methods: This is a case series study, involving children aged 15 days – 13 years diagnosed with EPT from one single institution. Results: Six cases of EPT were identified. Five of the 6 cases presented with both EPT and ectopic gastric tissue, located at the site of Meckel’s diverticulum, while 1 case presented EPT exclusively and it was localized in the duodenum I. A case of Littre’s hernia was identified in a newborn. Two of the 6 cases experienced gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: The identification of EPT continues to pose a diagnostic challenge, as the symptoms are nonspecific and can sometimes be life-threatening. Additionally, there are currently no specific paraclinical investigations available for this purpose.