Polysplenia syndrome with agenesis of the dorsal pancreas and preduodenal portal vein presenting with obstructive jaundice--a case report and literature review

Br J Radiol. 2011 Nov;84(1007):e217-20. doi: 10.1259/bjr/27680217.

Abstract

Polysplenia, as part of the heterotaxy syndrome, is a rare embryological disorder which results from failure of development of the usual left-right asymmetry of organs. It is often associated with cardiac and biliary abnormalities, which are the usual causes of death in early neonatal life. A congenitally short pancreas and abnormalities with portal vein formation, gut malrotations and inferior vena cava anomalies are known to be associated with this rare syndrome. We report a case of polysplenia in an adult female presenting with obstructive jaundice owing to choledocholithiasis, possibly formed by biliary stasis as a result of compression of the common bile duct by the preduodenal portal vein, and review the literature. The patient was also found to have complete agenesis of the dorsal pancreas on CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Choledocholithiasis / complications
  • Female
  • Heterotaxy Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heterotaxy Syndrome / surgery
  • Humans
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / diagnostic imaging*
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreas / abnormalities
  • Pancreas / diagnostic imaging*
  • Portal Vein / abnormalities
  • Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spleen / abnormalities
  • Spleen / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*