Heterotopic pancreatic rests: imaging features, complications, and unifying concepts

Objective: The spectrum of pancreatic heterotopia will be reviewed, including clinical features, potential complications, and imaging manifestations. This will also include a review of various entities associated with pancreatic heterotopia such as groove pancreatitis and cystic dystrophy of gastroduodenal heterotopic pancreas. These entities were previously thought of as distinct histopathologic entities but now appear to represent manifestations of pancreatic heterotopia.

Conclusion: Pancreatic heterotopia and heterotopic pancreatitis can have a wide range of appearances. Several entities, which were previously thought to be distinct, can be considered manifestations of pancreatic heterotopia and heterotopic pancreatitis.