The left-sided pancreas.

Ultrasonography (US) performed in nine patients (two with pancreatic carcinoma, one with hepatomegaly, six with no relevant abdominal disease) showed the pancreas to lie wholly to the left of the aorta. This not uncommon location may give rise to difficulty in demonstrating the pancreas on real-time US scans. The superior mesenteric vessels and splenic vein remain useful landmarks for locating the head of the pancreas in this position.