Introduction: Groove pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis. Its radiological diagnosis is challenging and it can be difficult to distinguish from pancreaticoduodenal malignancy.
Case description: A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our internal medicine ward after she contracted severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation. She presented with right upper abdominal pain, and a CT scan showed pancreaticoduodenal inflammatory tissue; malignancy was ruled out.
Conclusion: Diagnosing groove pancreatitis is challenging and malignancy must be quickly excluded. No cases of COVID-19-associated groove pancreatitis have been previously described.
Learning points: Groove or paraduodenal pancreatitis is a rare form of chronic pancreatitis, and usually associated with alcohol use.The differential diagnosis includes pancreaticobiliary and duodenal malignancies.Radiological diagnosis is challenging and treatment is usually supportive.
Keywords: COVID-19-related gastrointestinal disease; Groove pancreatitis.
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