Conservative management of groove pancreatitis - A case report with literature review

Introduction: Groove pancreatitis (GP) is a rare pancreatitis variant affecting the pancreaticoduodenal groove. It typically affects middle-aged men with a history of chronic alcoholism. Diagnosis is often challenging due to its resemblance with the head of the pancreatic carcinoma.Presentation of case: We report a unique case of GP in a 55-year-old female patient with no history of alcohol consumption. Contrast-enhanced computer tomography revealed the features suggestive of GP.Discussion: This case exemplifies a rare manifestation of GP in a non-alcoholic female, presenting as an acute condition deviating from the common association with male gender and alcohol consumption. GP can be successfully managed conservatively in the presence of diagnostic certainty.Conclusion: The presented case underscores the diagnostic complexity of groove pancreatitis, mainly when encountered in non-alcoholic females. Accurate diagnosis guides effective conservative treatment choices and mitigates the potential for unnecessary interventions.