Groove pancreatitis: A unique case of focal pancreatitis

Abstract

Groove pancreatitis (GP) is an unusual form of chronic segmental pancreatitis that affects the “pancreatic groove” between the pancreatic head, the duodenum, and the common bile duct, also known as the groove area. Becker initially reported GP in 1973, and the term was given by Malde DJ et al. to define this unique type of segmental pancreatitis. Most physicians are still unfamiliar with an entity. Radiological diagnosis can be arduous since it can be difficult to distinguish it from other conditions affecting the prior mentioned groove area, such as pancreatic head cancer. It is a rare pancreatic condition with a difficult imaging diagnosis that can lead to treatment dilemmas. The hour needs to identify the infinitesimal differences between these two pathological entities, as their management and treatment differ significantly. Here, we present a case of GP in a 21-year-old man and discuss how this entity appears on ultrasonography and computed tomography.