Abnormal location of papilla of Vater: a cadaveric study

Abstract

We report a case of a male cadaver aged 72 years with an ectopic location of the papilla of Vater. The ectopic papilla was situated at the supero-posterior border of the 3^rd portion of the duodenum at a distance of 0.9 cm from the limit of the 2^nd and 3^rd portions of the duodenum. The frequency of this anomaly fluctuates between 0 and 11.83% and when the papilla is located distal to its usual position the usual location is in the proximal 2 cm of the 3^rd part of the duodenum. We refer to the possible difference in the papilla’s location between patients and cadavers and call attention to the differential diagnosis with spontaneous or surgical fistulae.