[Groove pancreatitis. Diagnostic impact of dynamic radiology]. / Pancréatite du sillon. Apport diagnostique de l'imagerie dynamique.

INTRODUCTION: Described by Becker in 1973, groove pancreatitis is a rare segmental chronic pancreatitis affecting the groove between the head of the pancreas, the duodenum and the common bile duct. Mimicking pancreatic head carcinoma, surgical exploration is often required. OBSERVATION: Diagnosis of groove pancreatitis was made on computed tomography and MR imaging (groove fibrosis) in a 58 year-old man presenting with acute pancreatitis complicated by bilary and duodenal stenosis, with totally favourable outcome within 5 months with conservative treatment. DISCUSSION: After a general presentation, characterization of fibrosis of the groove by dynamic CT and MR imaging is emphasized (delayed enhancement of collagen fibrous tissue during the late post-equilibrium phase) and may, in the absence of complications, avoid surgical exploration. CONCLUSION: Improved radiological characterization of fibrosis helps the diagnosis of this particular form of pancreatitis, in which surgical treatment is not always ineluctable.