Intractable gastrointestinal bleeding caused by pancreatic arteriovenous malformation: successful treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation treated with transcatheter arterial embolization: Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Various treatment methods are available for the treatment of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (P-AVM); however, there are no established treatment options for asymptomatic P-AVM.

CASE SUMMARY

A 47-year-old and a 50-year-old male patients sought treatment for P-AVM in the pancreas, which was incidentally detected during routine abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging conducted as part of a health check-up. They underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), and over the course of a 9-year follow-up period, the AVM did not worsen and was asymptomatic.

CONCLUSION

TAE can be considered as an alternative treatment option for P-AVM in selective cases where patients are asymptomatic or have a high surgical risk.

Management of Pancreatico-duodenal arterio-venous malformation

Purpose

To describe the interventional management and clinical outcome of pancreatico-duodenal arterio-venous malformations (PDAVMs).

Material and Methods

Seven patients presenting a PDAVM (6 women, 1 male; mean age: 61) were retrospectively reviewed. Technical, clinical success and complications of embolization and surgical management of symptomatic PDAVMs were assessed. Technical success was defined as a complete occlusion of the PDAVM and clinical success as no clinical symptom or recurrence during follow-up. Patients with asymptomatic PDAVMs were followed clinically, by Doppler ultrasound and CT-angiography.

Results

Mean follow-up time was 69 months (15-180). Five symptomatic patients presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (n=3), ascites (n=1), and abdominal pain (n=1). Two patients were asymptomatic. The PDAVMs were classified as follow: Yakes I (1), IIIa (2), IIIb (3) and IV (1). Five symptomatic patients were treated with 9 embolization sessions with arterial approach (onyx®, glue, coils) in 7 and venous approach in 2 (plugs, coils, covered stents, STS foam and onyx®). Technical success of embolization was 60% (3/5). Devascularization was incomplete for 2 Yakes IIIB patients. Clinical success of embolization was estimated at 80% (4/5) as one patient required additional surgery (Whipple) because of persistent bleeding. One splenic vein thrombosis was treated successfully by mechanical thrombectomy and heparin. No recurrence occurred during follow-up. No progression was documented in asymptomatic patients.

Conclusion

Embolization of symptomatic PDAVMs is effective and surgery should be performed in second intention. Complete devascularization is more difficult to obtain in Yakes III PDAVM.

Management of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (P-AVM) is a rare vascular malformation. Fewer than 200 cases have been reported. The clinical manifestations lack specificity. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and jaundice, which is easily confused with other disorders.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 42-year-old man received TAE due to abdominal pain caused by P-AVM in a local hospital, melena and abdominal pain occurred in a short time after TAE.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed as P-AVM which was confirmed by computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography.

INTERVENTIONS

A pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed after diagnosis was made.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered with no complications two weeks after surgery, and no sign of recurrence was found during the 4-mo follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, TAE may have limitations in the treatment of P-AVM and surgical resection should be considered as the treatment of choice.

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation is very rare, but may cause significant clinical symptoms such as catastrophic bleeding. Herein, we discuss the clinical presentation and management of patients pancreatic arteriovenous malformations.

METHODS

The data pool for the analysis was collected from pancreatic arteriovenous malformation cases encountered by our institution and sporadic case reports in the English literature.

RESULTS

A total of 89 cases of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation were collected for this study, including 59 cases of arteriovenous malformation in the pancreatic head (62.3 %) and 30 in the pancreatic body-tail (33.7 %). The most commonly associated complications for overall cases of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation were bleeding (50.6 %), pancreatitis (16.9 %), portal hypertension (6.7 %), and pseudocyst (3.4 %). The most common presenting symptom of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation was gastrointestinal bleeding (47.2 %), followed by epigastric pain (46.1 %). Surgery (43.8 %) was the most common treatment for pancreatic arteriovenous malformation cases, followed by transarterial embolization (11.2 %), a combination of surgery and transarterial embolization (10.1 %), and radiotherapy (2.2 %). No intervention was done for 29.2 % of the cases of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation occurs most commonly in the pancreatic head; gastrointestinal bleeding is the main symptom. Surgical resection or transarterial embolization appears to be indicated in patients with symptomatic pancreatic arteriovenous malformation.

Surgical outcomes of pancreatic arteriovenous malformation in a single center and review of literature

OBJECTIVE

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (P-AVM) is an extremely rare condition that can be accompanied by fatal complications. We have attempted to identify the possible management guidelines based on our and others' clinical experience.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed our findings including clinical characteristics, imaging modalities, and treatment in 12 patients. Sporadic reports of 69 patients with P-AVM were surveyed for representative characteristics and treatment strategy.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 49.8 years (range, 44-64 years), and all 12 were male. The mean body mass index was 21.5 kg/m (range, 18.3-24.3 kg/m) and 6 (50%) were heavy smokers (mean, 30.9 pack-years; range, 7.5-120 pack-years). The most common clinical symptom is gastrointestinal bleeding, followed by abdominal pain. All patients were diagnosed with abdominal disease using computed tomography. Of the 12 patients, 11 underwent pancreatic resection and 1 patient was managed conservatively. No patient experienced any major postoperative complications during the median follow-up of 37 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with symptomatic P-AVM, surgical resection of the affected pancreas showed a successful result. When a patient is at a high risk for surgical treatment, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, transarterial embolization, and radiation therapy might be other treatment options.

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation combined with portal thrombosis

We encountered a case of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after treatment for portal hypertension due to pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (PAVM). A 75-year-old man was admitted for the treatment of esophageal varices. Diffuse PAVM and aneurysm in the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries were detected via abdominal computed tomography and angiography. Although endoscopical sclerotherapy was performed, PVT was identified after the treatment and variceal bleeding continued. Autopsy was performed and the thrombus and malformation were pathologically confirmed. This case indicates that PVT can be associated with PAVM.

Complex pancreatic vascular anomalies in children

BACKGROUND

Vascular anomalies are vascular tumors and congenital malformations that rarely involve the pancreas. Diagnosis and management of these lesions is complex.

METHODS

An institutional review board-approved retrospective database and record review from 1994 through 2004 at a quaternary referral center for vascular anomalies was conducted.

RESULTS

Of 5051 patients with a vascular anomaly, 6 had a lesion involving the pancreas. All patients were younger than 3 years. There were three tumors (two infantile hemangiomas and one Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma) and three malformations (two lymphatic and one venous). The referring diagnoses were correct for 4 patients. All anomalies were diagnosed with a combination of cross-sectional imaging and angiography. Five patients received medical therapy including two malformation patients who were initially treated with antiangiogenic drugs. Two patients with lymphatic malformations underwent operative intervention. One infantile hemangioma was treated with percutaneous biliary drainage for obstructive jaundice.

CONCLUSION

Complex pancreatic vascular anomalies are rare. Vascular tumors are generally amenable to treatment with antiangiogenic medications. Operative resection is reserved for refractory cases or complications. Symptomatic vascular malformations are treated exclusively by surgery. Evaluation and management of these lesions is complex and may benefit from coordinated interdisciplinary care.