Diagnosis and management of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum

Duodenal Web in an Elderly Patient with Abdominal Discomfort and Vomiting: A Rare Case

Duodenal web is complete or incomplete obstruction of the duodenum due to a membranous web or intraluminal diverticulum. This abnormality is one of the main causes of intestinal obstruction in children. The symptoms of this disease may rarely appear in older age and cause gastric outlet obstruction in adults. In the present paper, we report a 69-year-old male patient with heartburn, abdominal discomfort, frequent non-bilious, non-bloody vomiting for the past 6 months. Furthermore, the patient had experienced a weight loss of 12 kg during this period. He had been taking aspirin daily for years due to his ischemic heart disease. After performing contrast-enhanced CT imaging, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and barium meal examination, the patient was diagnosed to suffer from duodenal web. Since surgery is currently the mainstay of treatment in the management of this disease, the patient finally underwent a gastrojejunostomy.

Imaging Findings of an Intraluminal Duodenal Diverticulum Associated with Adult Duodeno-Duodenal Intussusception and Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Case Report

Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) is a rare congenital abnormality, consisting of a sac-like mucosal lesion in the duodenum. Cases of IDD can present with gastrointestinal bleeding, duodenal obstruction, or pancreatitis. Here, we report a rare case of a 25-year-old female presenting with IDD complicated by duodeno-duodenal intussusception and recurrent pancreatitis. The diagnosis was based on findings from radiologic examinations (CT and MRI), upper gastrointestinal series (barium swallow), and gastroduodenofiberscopy. Laparoscopic excision of the presumed duodenal duplication was performed. The subsequent histopathologic evaluation of the excised sac revealed normal mucosa on both sides, but the absence of a proper muscle layer confirmed the diagnosis of IDD. Radiologic detection of a saccular structure in the second portion of the duodenum can indicate IDD with duodeno-duodenal intussusception as the lead point.

Management of complicated duodenal diverticula

The duodenum is the second most common location of intestinal diverticula after the colon. Duodenal diverticulum (DD) is usually located in the second portion of the duodenum (D2), close to the papilla. Most duodenal diverticula are extraluminal and acquired rather than congenital; more rare is the congenital, intraluminal diverticulum. DD is usually asymptomatic and discovered incidentally, but can become symptomatic in 1% to 5% of cases when complicated by gastroduodenal, biliary and/or pancreatic obstruction, by perforation or by hemorrhage. Endoscopic treatment is the most common first-line treatment for biliopancreatic complications caused by juxtapapillary diverticula and also for bleeding. Conservative treatment of perforated DD based on fasting and broad-spectrum antibiotics may be offered in some selected cases when diagnosis is made early in stable patients, or in elderly patients with comorbidities who are poor operative candidates. Surgical treatment is currently reserved for failure of endoscopic or conservative treatment. The main postoperative complication of diverticulectomy is duodenal leak or fistula, which carries up to a 30% mortality rate.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticula: collective review with report of a laparoscopic excision

A comprehensive review of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) is presented, along with a report of a completely laparoscopic excision of this duodenal abnormality as well as a report of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrating the classic fluoroscopic "wind sock sign" pathognomonic appearance of IDD. IDD may easily be missed unless one specifically considers this entity in patients presenting with symptoms of foregut disease. Patients with IDD typically present in the fourth decade of life with duration of symptoms less than 5 years that typically include pain, nausea and vomiting, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis usually requires imaging studies and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Laparoscopic excision is recommended because of superior visualization of significant intestinal anatomic abnormalities, the need for accurate ampullary localization, and the ability to facilitate complete diverticular excision while maintaining biliary and pancreatic ductal integrity. Review of surgical literature suggests that IDD results from congenital duodenal developmental abnormalities matured by long-term duodenal peristalsis.

Duodenal diverticulum mimicking duodenal stromal tumor

A patient with duodenal diverticulitis who was initially misdiagnosed with stromal tumor of the duodenum is presented. This case is of interest because it illustrates difficulties in the interpretation of auxiliary investigations and the choice of the best treatment option. US and CT images revealed two large ovoid masses of fluid density in the duodenal wall which may have suggested stromal tumor of the duodenum as well as periampullary cystic neoplasm, the more so because intramural tumor of the duodenum was seen in duodenoscopy. A similar picture may also be seen in duodenal diverticula, especially in diverticula which are not filled with gas or a combination of fluid and gas. This case demonstrates one such entity.

Intraduodenal diverticulum associated with a double common bile duct causing recurrent pancreatitis and cholangitis: report of a case

Intraduodenal diverticulum (IDD) is a rare congenital anomaly, arising at or near the papilla of Vater. Double common bile duct (DCBD) is another rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system. Recognition of these abnormalities is essential to prevent the development of lesions in the biliary system, as well as to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Although both conditions are often asymptomatic, severe clinical conditions may develop. Intraduodenal diverticulum should always be considered as a possible cause of pancreatitis of unknown etiology. We report a rare case of IDD with DCBD in a patient with Lemmel's syndrome, which consists of obstructive jaundice, acute pancreatitis, and suppurative cholangitis. The patient was treated successfully with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

A case of duodenal web occurring in Prader-Willi syndrome

Vomiting and abdominal symptoms are uncommonly seen in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). A case is described of a child with PWS who presented with vomiting, abdominal distension and abdominal pain due to a duodenal web causing gross gastric distension. Prompt attention to the onset of such clinical features in children with PWS may prevent excess morbidity and complications.

Small Bowel Diverticulosis: An Overlooked Entity

Small bowel diverticulosis (SBD) is a rare entity. Most cases of diverticulosis are asymptomatic. SBD is often discovered incidentally during contrast studies and endoscopy. When patients report chronic gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, and anemia, SBD is often an overlooked diagnosis. Patients requiring treatment for SBD are those with complications such as malabsorption, hemorrhage, obstruction, and acute inflammation with abscess or rarely perforation. Malabsorption can be managed with broad-spectrum antibiotics and vitamin supplementation. Hemorrhage is treated conservatively with resuscitation efforts, but recurrent bleeding requires surgery. Enteroliths causing obstruction in the duodenum can be relieved by endoscopy, that is, by manipulation, but jejunoileal obstruction requires a resection. Pseudo- obstruction may be managed with prokinetics such as metoclopramide, erythromycin, and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 agonist tegaserod. Uncomplicated cases of SBD are treated with bowel rest and antibiotics. However, perforation or abscess formation not amenable to percutaneous drainage mandates surgical resection. Any patient with a triad of anemia, abdominal pain, and an abdominal radiograph with dilated loops of small bowel merits SBD in the differential diagnosis.

Pictorial review: Radiological diagnosis of duodenal abnormalities

This article depicts the radiological findings of many common gastrointestinal entities. Specifically, examples of disease processes that affect the stomach, gall bladder, small intestine, pancreas and colon are shown. In most cases there is correlation between ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopic imaging. The major emphasis of the article, however, is to demonstrate classic barium imaging of a large number of gastrointestinal disease processes.

CT-appearance of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum. The "halo" sign

The barium appearance of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum has been classically described as a "windsock" appearance. However, the CT-scan appearance of this abnormality has not been well documented. A case report of a patient with intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is presented. The authors believe the CT-scan findings in the patient are virtually pathognomonic for this lesion and propose the term "halo" sign be applied to this previously undescribed finding.

Choledochocele: importance of histological evaluation

Choledochocele is a rare abnormality of unknown etiology that consists of cystic or diverticular dilatations of the intramural part of the common bile duct. The authors present a case of choledochocele with a common channel in a 15-year-old boy who had a 5-year history of intermittent right upper abdominal pain. In a review of the literature, macroscopic variations were noted as well as different types of epithelial lining inside the choledochocele. Whereas in young children mostly duodenal mucosa is described, biliary tract epithelium and undifferentiated epithelium are predominant later on. Etiologically, congenital intraluminal duodenal diverticulum should be suggested in relation to the pathogenesis of choledochocele. Treatment is total excision and reinsertion of both ducts in cases of biliary or undifferentiated epithelium; endoscopic sphincterotomy or marsupialization is indicated only when duodenal mucosa covers both sides of the choledochocele.

Intraluminal esophageal diverticulum

An intraluminal esophageal diverticulum (IED) is an uncommon entity defined as a double-layered mucosal pouch lying within the lumen of the esophagus. Its characteristic radiological finding is an intraluminal barium collection surrounded by a radiolucent halo. True IED, which is different from a transient radiological artifact, has not been previously reported in the international literature. This article describes the first case of true IED. Differential diagnosis between a true lesion and a transient flow artifact on barium meal is discussed.

Management of the intraluminal duodenal diverticulum: endoscopy or duodenotomy?

The intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is associated with obstructive symptoms. Treatment of the symptomatic intraluminal duodenal diverticulum can be undertaken either endoscopically with excision by snare cautery or with duodenotomy and excision of the diverticulum. An understanding of the embryologic and anatomic characteristics of the intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is essential in order to select the best treatment and avoid the pitfall of inadvertent pancreatic or bile duct injury.