When in doubt, take it out? Cholestasis and obstructive gastric outlet syndrome in a patient with suspected chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatology. 2013 Jul-Aug;13(4):458-60. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2013.04.002. Epub 2013 Apr 12.

Abstract

In some patients with tumors located in the pancreas or in the periampullary region, the decision to perform a surgical resection can be difficult. In patients with concomitant chronic pancreatitis this decision can be even more challenging, since a definitive preoperative differentiation between non-malignant and malignant tumors in many cases is not possible. Clinical symptoms or complications from the tumor often direct a rational treatment strategy. For therapeutic decisions, an interdisciplinary discussion of all diagnostic findings by experienced clinicians is needed. However, in rare cases, like the one presented here, an uncommon non-malignant entity like a periampullary hamartoma may be only diagnosed after surgical resection.

Keywords: CP; CT; Cholestasis; Chronic pancreatitis; Obstructive gastric outlet syndrome; Periampullary hamartoma; centimeter; chronic pancreatitis; cm; computed tomography; millimeter; mm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bile Ducts / surgery
  • Cholestasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cholestasis / surgery
  • Duodenum / surgery
  • Gastric Outlet Obstruction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gastric Outlet Obstruction / surgery
  • Hamartoma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreaticojejunostomy
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiography