A case of ectopic pancreas in the duodenum causing intestinal bleeding

Abstract

The patient was a 34-year-old male who came to our hospital with chief complaints of melena and dizziness. Blood study revealed the presence of anemia and an emergent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic study revealed a bleeding ulceration in an elevated lesion in the descending segment of the duodenum 2cm orally from Vater's papilla. Since it was not possible to stop the bleeding, a surgical excision of the tumor was performed 2 days later. Pathological study of the specimen revealed an ectopic pancreas of Heinrich I type. A small artery and capillary dilatation was present in the base of the ulcer. Surgical treatment was thought to be necessary for the bleeding from a submucosal tumor of the duodenum if a conservative management was not successful. Ectopic pancreas is asymptomatic in most of the cases and usually found incidentally in surgically excised specimens or at autopsies. We report here a recently experienced rare case of bleeding from an ectopic pancreas.