Inferior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm Related with Groove Pancreatitis Persistently Repeated Hemosuccus Pancreaticus Even After Coil Embolization

Haemosuccus pancreaticus and seven episodes of recurrent unlocalised upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common medical condition that results in extensive morbidity and mortality, as well as substantial healthcare costs. While there is variation among society and consensus guidelines, the approaches to assessment and evaluation are generally consistent. Our case describes a man in his 40s who presented with seven episodes of recurrent upper GI bleeding over 2 years secondary to haemosuccus pancreaticus. While rare, this case study highlights key principles to the initial diagnostic approach that, in appropriate clinical contexts, should be applied to patients with unlocalised upper GI bleeding. We further perform a complete systematic review of similar cases available in PubMed (36 patients in 24 case reports) to further refine these diagnostic principles.

Fatal arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy: How do we simultaneously accomplish complete hemostasis and hepatic arterial flow?

BACKGROUND

Although arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is not frequent, it is fatal. Arterial hemorrhage is caused by pseudoaneurysm rupture, and the gastroduodenal artery stump and hepatic artery (HA) are frequent culprit vessels. Diagnostic procedures and imaging modalities are associated with certain difficulties. Simultaneous accomplishment of complete hemostasis and HA flow preservation is difficult after PD. Although complete hemostasis may be obtained by endovascular treatment (EVT) or surgery, liver infarction caused by hepatic ischemia and/or liver abscesses caused by biliary ischemia may occur. We herein discuss therapeutic options for fatal arterial hemorrhage after PD.

AIM

To present our data here along with a discussion of therapeutic strategies for fatal arterial hemorrhage after PD.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 16 patients who developed arterial hemorrhage after PD. The patients’ clinical characteristics, diagnostic procedures, actual treatments [transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), stent-graft placement, or surgery], clinical courses, and outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

The frequency of arterial hemorrhage after PD was 5.5%. Pancreatic leakage was observed in 12 patients. The onset of hemorrhage occurred at a median of 18 d after PD. Sentinel bleeding was observed in five patients. The initial EVT procedures were stent-graft placement in seven patients, TAE in six patients, and combined therapy in two patients. The rate of technical success of the initial EVT was 75.0%, and additional EVTs were performed in four patients. Surgical approaches including arterioportal shunting were performed in eight patients. Liver infarction was observed in two patients after TAE. Two patients showed a poor outcome even after successful EVT. These four patients with poor clinical courses and outcomes had a poor clinical condition before EVT. Fourteen patients were successfully treated.

CONCLUSION

Transcatheter placement of a covered stent may be useful for simultaneous accomplishment of complete hemostasis and HA flow preservation.

Metachronous Pancreatic Metastasis from Rectal Cancer that Masqueraded as a Primary Pancreatic Cancer: A Rare and Difficult-to-Diagnose Metastatic Tumor in the Pancreas

BACKGROUND Pancreatic metastasis from colorectal cancer is rare and can masquerade as primary pancreatic cancer. CASE REPORT A 70-year-old male was diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer with multiple liver metastases. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, he underwent radical surgery for the primary tumor and hepatectomy for multiple liver metastases. Adjuvant chemotherapies and additional surgeries were subsequently required for recurrences in the liver, lung, and lymph nodes. A diffuse hypovascular nodule in the pancreatic head and a solitary liver metastasis were detected 2.5 years after the initial surgery and he accordingly underwent further chemotherapy. However, the pancreatic tumor progressed, invading the pancreatic duct and biliary tract. Obstructive jaundice finally prompted discontinuation of chemotherapy and he underwent biliary drainage. His diffuse and hypovascular tumor was clinically and radiographically diagnosed as a primary pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic resection for the pancreatic tumor and hepatectomy for the liver metastasis were performed 4.2 years after the initial surgery, achieving radiographic and surgical curative resection. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen resulted in a definitive diagnosis of metachronous pancreatic metastasis from his primary rectal cancer. Despite further chemotherapy, his general condition worsened; however, he remains alive 5.4 years after the initial surgery, with best supportive care. CONCLUSIONS Pancreatic metastasis originating from rectal cancer can masquerade as primary pancreatic cancer clinically and radiologically. Multimodality treatment is mandatory for metastatic colorectal cancer. Aggressive surgeries for pancreatic metastasis should be considered if curative resection appears possible radiographically and/or intraoperatively.