ectopic pancreas ectopic pancreas an ectopic pancreas is an anatomical abnormality in which pancreatic tissue has grown outside its normal location and without vascular or other anatomical connections to the pancreas. it is a congenital disease and is also known as heterotopic, accessory, or aberrant pancreas. ectopic pancreasother namesheterotopic pancreas, accessory pancreas, aberrant pancreas, pancreatic rest, myoepithelial hamartomastomach biopsy with pancreatic heterotopia in the submucosa. h&e stain.specialtygastroenterologysymptomsoften asymptomatic, may cause abdominal pain and distensiondiagnostic methodbiopsy, histologic evaluationdifferential diagnosisgastrointestinal stromal tumor (gist)treatmentsurgery if symptomaticmedicationnonefrequencyuncommon signs and symptoms often, heterotopic pancreas is asymptomatic. when present, symptoms may include abdominal pain and distension. often heterotopic pancreas is recognized as an incidental finding on imaging studies performed for an unrelated reason. ectopic pancreatic tissue may occur anywhere in the abdominal cavity, though more than 90 percent are found in the stomach, duodenum or jejunum. rarely, pancreatic heterotopic tissue may be found in the colon, spleen or liver. diagnosis the diagnosis of ectopic pancreas can be challenging. confirmation of the diagnosis requires tissue sampling, via biopsy or surgical resection. treatment if no symptoms are present, then treatment is not necessary. when symptoms are present, treatment consists of surgical resection. epidemiology the incidence of heterotopic pancreas is relatively low.