Iron deficiency anemia due to a Brunner's gland hamartoma

Brunner's gland hamartomas: Not always benign

Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is a rare, benign tumor of the duodenum. It is mostly asymptomatic and usually found incidentally on routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). However, some BGHs present with major complications including anemia, bleeding, obstruction, or dysplasia, requiring management and resection of these lesions. Herein, we present two cases of large BGHs of the duodenum, one presenting as severe gastrointestinal bleeding and the other, noted on EGD for iron deficiency anemia, found to have high grade dysplasia. This literature review discusses the rare serious complications of BGH, including iron deficiency anemia, overt gastrointestinal bleeding, and malignant potential.

Surgical Outcome of Brunner's Gland Hamartoma: A Single-Centre Experience

Introduction  Brunner's gland hamartomas (BGH) are rare benign lesions with an incidence of <0.01%, accounting for 5 to 10% of all benign tumors of the duodenum. It requires expeditious management by a multidisciplinary team. The aim of the study is to report our experience with surgery for BGH.

Methodology  Data of all patients who underwent surgical intervention for duodenal polypoidal mass between August 2007 and March 2020 were retrieved from our prospectively maintained gastrointestinal (GI) surgery database. All patients whose histopathology report of the resected specimen confirmed BGH ( n  = 9) were included in the present study. Other pathological diagnosis like duodenal lipoma ( n  = 2), ganglioneuroma ( n  = 1), adenoma ( n  = 10), and adenocarcinoma ( n  = 4) were excluded.

Results  Nine patients had confirmatory histopathological diagnosis of BGH and met our inclusion criteria. Three (33.3%) of them were men with a median age of 45 (range: 24–61) years. The median interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of duodenal polyp was 14 (range: 4–180) days. Five patients (55.5%) presented with upper GI hemorrhage. Three (33.3%) patients presented with abdominal pain, and one (11.1%) patient presented with episodes of bilious vomiting. Diagnostic endoscopy could detect the lesion in all (100%) patients. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography detected duodenal polypoidal lesion in five (55.5%) patients. The mean size of tumor was 4.78 ± 1.36 cm. These lesions were symptomatic in all the patients and warranted intervention. In view of failed endoscopic intervention ( n  = 7, 77.7%), or extramural extension of the tumor ( n  = 2, 22.2%), surgical intervention was considered. Most commonly performed operation was duodenal polypectomy ( n  = 6, 66.6%). Three postoperative complications developed in two (22.2%) patients. There was no surgery-related mortality. After a median follow-up of 60 (12 -78) months, no patient developed GI bleed or intestinal obstruction.

Conclusion  In this study, the clinical profile of BGH was explored from the surgeon's point of view. Although endoscopic management is the first-line treatment, surgery plays an important role, particularly, if this fails or is not feasible. In experienced hand, surgery can be performed with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality and long-term satisfactory outcomes.

En Bloc Endoscopic Resection of Large Pedunculated Brunner's Gland Hamartoma: A Case Report

Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is an uncommon benign tumor arising from alkaline-based mucin-secreting glands of the duodenum. These lesions are typically discovered incidentally during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or radiological diagnostics, even though they can eventually lead (in the case of increasing size) to obstructive or hemorrhagic symptoms. We report the case of a 67-year-old Caucasian man with two episodes of melena and epigastric pain during the last month. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large pedunculated and eroded polyp inside the antrum with a 2-cm-long stalk arising from the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a submucosal lesion with homogeneous hyperechoic parietal thickening and some central gaps. The muscularis was undamaged. No lymphadenopathy was observed. We performed an en bloc endoscopic resection of the polyp. The size of the whole piece was approximately 6 × 3 × 2 cm, pseudocapsulated and tough in consistency. In the case presented, the en bloc endoscopic removal was successful despite the size of the tumor.

Saving from unnecessary pancreaticoduodenectomy. Brunner's gland hamartoma: Case report on a rare duodenal lesion and exhaustive literature review

INTRODUCTION

Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is an infrequently encountered, benign, polypoid proliferation of Brunner's glands. Usually these lesions are asymptomatic, just only occasionally presenting with duodenal obstruction or bleeding signs and mimicking a tumoral lesion.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 72-year-old male, referred for recurrent vomiting and epigastralgia, was investigated and all preoperative findings were suggestive of a tumour of the duodenum. During the scheduled pancreaticoduodenectomy a mass, resultant to a polyp, was palpatory felt inside the duodenum and then successfully and completely resected through a duodenotomy avoiding surgical overtreatment and connected postoperative morbidities. Histological analysis showed hyperplasia of Brunner's glands correspondent to a Brunner's gland hamartoma. BGH was undiagnosed before surgery, due to its particular sub-mucosal growth simulating an expanding process starting from the duodenum, and secondly due to unsuccessful biopsies performed during endoscopic procedure.

CONCLUSION

BGH is a rare lesion featuring, when symptomatic, obstructive or bleeding symptoms. Surgical treatment represents the gold standard approach in case of lesions that are technically impossible to remove endoscopically or in case of an undiagnosed lesion. Herein, we report a case of a patient presenting with a duodenal lesion mimicking, in all preoperative findings, a tumour of the duodenum. Duodenotomy and resection of the BGH provided a definitive cure avoiding surgical overtreatment. An intraoperative deep analysis of all surgical cases still remain crucial for a right therapeutic choice even in a new era for surgical technology. For similar intraoperative findings we recommend this technique.

A Giant Brunneroma Causing Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Severe Anemia Requiring Transfusion and Surgery

Brunner's gland hamartoma, also called hyperplasia, adenoma, and Brunneroma, is an extremely rare benign proliferative lesion of Brunner's glands in the duodenum. While being mostly small and asymptomatic, they can result in gastrointestinal bleeding and obstruction. We report the case of a 54-year-old man presenting with melena and severe anemia requiring blood transfusion. CT scans showed a large mass of 8 cm in diameter, presumably arising in the duodenum. Endoscopic biopsies were not conclusive. As we were unable to determine the nature of the mass preoperatively and due to the severe symptoms, its size, and the uncertain malignant potential, a classic Whipple procedure was performed. The resected specimen showed extensive proliferation of Brunner's glands without signs of malignancy.

Successful surgical excision of a massive symptomatic partially obstructing Brunner's gland hamartoma: a case report

Brunner gland function within the duodenal epithelium is secretion of alkaline mucin to counteract acidic chyme. These glands may grow beyond the duodenal wall to become hamartomas. Rarely, they become large enough to cause obstructive symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of one of the largest lesions identified in the literature causing obstruction symptoms. A previously asymptomatic 65-year-old gentleman presented to the emergency department with a single-day history of colicky abdominal pain, cramping and vomiting. After initial imaging with computed tomography was inconclusive, a subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy and small bowel series was performed indicating a pedunculated polypoid mass. Our patient underwent an uncomplicated exploratory laparotomy with duodenotomy and Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty for resection of a massive Brunner's gland hamartoma. For similar presentations, we recommend this technique.

18F-FDG-avid brunner gland hyperplasia

Brunner gland hyperplasia, a rare duodenal tumor, usually presents with benign features. A 68-year-old man with a history of anemia presented with a polypoid duodenal mass that was detected by CT and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. This mass showed high F-FDG avidity on PET/CT and was histopathologically confirmed as Brunner gland hyperplasia. We suggest that Brunner gland hyperplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of F-FDG-avid duodenal tumors.

Brunner's gland hyperplasia: an unusual cause of hemorrhagic shock

Brunner's gland hyperplasia is a very rare lesion of the duodenum, which is usually asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. It can cause gastrointestinal bleeding but hemorrhagic shock is a rare clinical presentation of Brunner's gland hyperplasia. The authors present a case of a patient with hemorrhagic shock due to a bleeding Brunner's gland hyperplasia, treated by urgent laparotomy and polypectomy.

Surgical management of giant Brunner's gland hamartoma: case report and literature review

Brunner's gland hamartomas (BGH) are uncommon benign tumors of the duodenum forming mature Brunner's glands. We report here an unusual case of a giant BGH that was not amenable to endoscopic or surgical local resection thus requiring a pancreaticoduodenectomy for extirpation. The relevant literature is discussed.

Pedunculated Brunner’s gland hamartoma of the duodenum causing upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

A case of pedunculated Brunner’s gland hamartoma (BGH) of the duodenum causing upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is reported. The patient was a 47-year-old man who visited our hospital for further evaluation of tarry stools and shortness of breath. Endoscopic examination of the upper digestive tract revealed a large peduncular polyp with bleeding, about 30 mm in diameter, arising from the wall of the second portion of the duodenum. GI bleeding occurred from the base of the stalk of the polyp. Endoscopic polypectomy was performed. Histological examination of the specimen revealed that the main body of the polyp contained several lobules of mature Brunner’s gland with areas of cystic dilatation. The surface epithelium consisted of normal duodenal mucosa with areas of focal ulceration. This polyp was diagnosed as a BGH. The symptom of tarry stools resolved after endoscopic resection. Our case shows that treatment is necessary for duodenal BGH if GI bleeding occurs.

Acute pancreatitis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding as presenting symptoms of duodenal Brunner's gland hamartoma

Brunner's gland hamartomas are rare, benign small bowel tumours. There were fewer than 150 cases reported in the English literature until the end of the last century. These hamartomas may be discovered incidentally during an upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy. Otherwise, they may be diagnosed in patients presenting with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia or symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The case of a young woman admitted for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding along with acute pancreatitis is presented. The investigation revealed a giant Brunner's gland hamartoma in the second part of the duodenum. After total endoscopic resection of the tumour, the patient has remained completely asymptomatic for a follow-up period of seven months.

[Massive hemorrhage due to nodular hyperplasia of Brunner's glands in antiphospholipid syndrome]

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage is an exceptional complication of antiphospholipid syndrome and most reported cases are secondary to ischemic lesions. Brunner's gland hyperplasia is an infrequent and usually asymptomatic condition that has been associated with chronic renal failure. We report a patient with primary antiphospholipid syndrome who, after mechanic heart valve replacement and while in a state of drug-induced anticoagulation, experienced a life-threatening upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to nodular hyperplasia of Brunner's glands. This entity may be considered in the differential diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, most of whom are treated with oral anticoagulatory drugs, and particularly in patients with chronic renal failure.