Dilated pancreatic duct: Should I get a second opinion?

Hello @cghodge2 and welcome to Mayo Connect. This is a great forum to connect with other patients who have similar experiences. Your concern about this bile duct dilation that appears on some tests and then not on others must be frustrating to you and to your doctors as well. It does sound like your medical team is having regular follow ups which is good.

As you are looking for others on Connect who are also discussing a dilated pancreatic bile duct, I did a search and found this link to all discussions where a dilated pancreatic bile duct was found. Here is the link,
--Dilated Pancreatic Duct
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=Dilated+pancreatic+duct+
I would encourage you to read these posts and if you have questions for any of the members who have posted, just click on "Reply" under their post.

For more technical information, here is some information from the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine on this topic
https://www.ccjm.org/content/89/6/315
If my understanding is correct, it appears that this condition was discovered on a CT scan five months ago. I'm wondering if you were having symptoms that led to the doctor requesting this CT scan? How are you feeling now?

Hello. About five months ago, a CT scan revealed some findings, but subsequent tests (MRI and EUS) taken a couple of weeks later appeared normal. The doctors recommended a repeat MRI four months later, which showed a dilated pancreatic bile duct. I visited my doctor due to a strange sensation on my left side under my rib cage, along with a dry mouth, occasional stomach discomfort, and increased urination. Initially, I suspected a urinary tract infection, but tests ruled that out. However, there were traces of protein and sugar in my urine. These symptoms prompted me to seek medical attention, and I requested a CT scan and blood work from my doctor. The blood work indicated a pancreatic issue.

Since your pancreas continues to be mentioned, try to get to a pancreatic center of excellence. Ask for a CA 19-9 marker to be tested with your next blood work. And most certainly visit with another GI doctor for a second opinion. You will be glad you did and your current doctor will appreciate it too!

I hope this helps and I’m so sorry that you’re going through what you’re going through
I’m researching the dilated pancreatic duck, as I noticed it in my chart a couple years ago today I just got diagnosed with Crohn’s as I’ve been having decades of abdomen pain last month and pressing on for answers. I was given a barium enema, and it was finally determined that I need a sigmoidectomy after half a dozen bouts of diverticulitis over the last two decades I’m 54. I have only been diagnosed with IBS after a normal colonoscopy. Nothing was normal in my mind I kept pressing on and they just did a camera capsule test and found little perforations in the lining of my intestine, and I’m being treated now for Crohn’s. I’ve had all the symptoms that now reading about these diseases are a total no-brainers. Please press on for more test more tests. You will get the answer. I hope this helps. I’ll pray for you right now. God bless you. corennafranck @ Gmail 😉

Early last year I had the same diagnosis by CT scan (which was for something else) unexpectedly. Then I had to get scheduled for an endoscopy with ultrasound. (Long story there but it was the clinic/hospital, no other reason.)
It turned out nothing else was found and he told me opiates can be a cause. I do take a small amount daily for chronic spinal pain.
I too was worried about pancreatic cancer!

My mother had two CTs with IV and oral contrast and the pancreatic mass was never visible until EUS. Took 6 months of "Everything is normal".