Q: Which doctor should I consult for annular pancreas?
A: You should consult your family physician when you experience abdominal pain. After a medical examination, the doctor may recommend laboratory tests and imaging studies to understand the diagnosis.
Q: What is the outcome of annular pancreas following treatment?
A: Annular pancreas when treated with surgery has a good response rate though adults may be susceptible to cancer.
Q: How is the body affected when the pancreas fail?
A: The pancreas is an organ that releases enzymes to digest food before it enters the small intestine. When the pancreas fail, conditions, such as pancreatitis, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer develop.
Q: What is the incidence of annular pancreas in adults?
A: In adults, annular pancreas is observed at a frequency of 0.005 to 0.015%.
Q: What are the conditions rarely associated with annular pancreas?
A: Malignancy (cancer) or obstructive jaundice, are rarely observed in cases of annular pancreas.
Q: What is portal annular pancreas?
A: It is an extremely rare form of annular pancreas where the pancreas encircles the portal vein.
