Duodenal Obstruction Caused by an Annular Pancreas – Sonographic Diagnosis in a 4-Month-Old Dystrophic Infant

Introduction

Annular pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly in which the duodenum is encircled by a ring of pancreatic tissue. This pathology may cause duodenal obstruction with bilious vomiting and failure to thrive. Diagnosis may be difficult in the individual case. Contrast imaging of the upper gastrointestinal tract reveals duodenal obstruction. Sometimes the typical “double bubble” of duodenal atresia can be seen. The definitive diagnosis is typically made only intraoperatively. There are only a few publications about the role of sonography in the diagnosis of an annular pancreas in cases of duodenal obstruction – most of them concerning the fetal period.