Identification of the course of plastic stent-induced pancreatic duct mucosal change in chronic pancreatitis using peroral pancreatoscopy (with video)

Stent-induced ductal change is a complication of endoscopic treatment of the main pancreatic duct in chronic pancreatitis. Most previous reports have been based on morphological duct changes observed via pancreatography. Here, we describe a case of stent-induced ductal change in which the course of the mucosal changes was observed through peroral pancreatoscopy with a videoscopy.

The patient presented with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Main pancreatic duct stenosis in the pancreatic head was identified and a 10-Fr plastic stent was inserted. Follow-up pancreatography revealed a focally elevated duct change of approximately 4.5 mm at the distal tip of the stent, and peroral pancreatoscopy was performed. The elevated ductal change was identified as a clear villiform-like nodular mucosal change with the spread of pale papillary and granular mucosa. Reassessment after stent removal showed an improvement in the elevated mucosal lesion, with residual discoloration and mucosal retraction suggestive of scarring. The stent may cause irreversible changes, undetectable morphologically by pancreatography, likely underestimating stent-induced ductal change in chronic pancreatitis.