Successful Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis with Irregular Pancreatic Morphology and Pancreatic Tail Agenesis: A Case Report with 3-Year Follow-up

Abstract Background Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and structural changes in the pancreas. It is widely regarded as one of the most intractable diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of chronic pancreatitis with irregular pancreatic morphology and pancreatic tail agenesis, successfully treated with combined Chinese-Western medicine, with clinical improvement confirmed by deep palpation of the pancreatic projection area. Case Presentation: A 29-year-old woman presented with a 7-year history of recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms were aggravated by cold and fatty foods. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen revealed irregular pancreatic morphology with agenesis of the pancreatic tail. Physical examination demonstrated tenderness on deep palpation of the right hypochondriac region overlying the pancreatic projection area. The patient received 24 days of combined Chinese-Western medicine treatment. Following treatment, the frequency and severity of abdominal pain and vomiting completely resolved, and tenderness on deep palpation disappeared. No recurrence was observed during 3 years and 4 months of follow-up. Conclusion This case demonstrates the potential of combined Chinese-Western medicine in treating chronic pancreatitis. Deep palpation of the pancreatic projection area may serve as a simple, reproducible clinical tool for evaluating disease activity and treatment response, particularly in settings where advanced imaging is not readily available.