Isolated pancreatic tail injury: A rare presentation

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic injuries occur in up to 10% of all major blunt abdominal trauma events. Due to the retroperitoneal location of the pancreas, isolated pancreatic injury occurs in less than 5% of cases. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 12 year old male child was brought to the emergency department with epigastric pain 12 days after alleged history of fall from bicycle. On admission, he had tenderness in the epigastrium. CT scan revealed a transection through the tail of the pancreas with no injury to any other organ. As there was no evidence of duct injury, he was treated conservatively. DISCUSSION: Morbidity and mortality rates for isolated pancreatic trauma are directly related to the presence of damage to the pancreatic duct. Helical multislice CT scan represents the best noninvasive diagnostic method for the detection of pancreatic injury. Hyperamylasemia should at least be considered as a sign of probable pancreatic injury in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma. CONCLUSION: Trauma to the pancreas is not common, and isolated pancreatic trauma is even less common. An isolated pancreatic injury may be missed or the diagnosis may be delayed because the initial symptoms and signs of pancreatic injury are subtle.