A case of lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas diagnosed by EUS-FNA

Diagnostic Endoscopic Ultrasound in Pancreatology: Focus on Normal Variants and Pancreatic Masses

Background

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a main tool in gastroenterology for both diagnosis and exclusion of pancreatic pathology. It allows minimally invasive assessment of various diseases or anatomic variations affecting the pancreas also with the help of new Doppler technologies, elastography, contrast-enhanced imaging including post hoc image processing with quantification analyses, three-dimensional reconstruction, and artificial intelligence. EUS also allows interventional direct access to the pancreatic parenchyma and the retroperitoneal space, to the pancreatic duct, pancreatic masses, cysts, and vascular structures.

Summary

This review aimed to summarize new developments of EUS in the field of pancreatology. We highlight the role of EUS in evaluating pancreatic pathology by describing normal anatomic variants like pancreas divisum, pancreatic lipomatosis, pancreatic fibrosis in the elderly and characterizing pancreatic masses, both in the context of chronic pancreatitis and within healthy pancreatic parenchyma. EUS is considered the optimal imaging modality for pancreatic masses of uncertain dignity and allows both cytological diagnosis and histology, which is essential not only for neoplastic conditions but also for tailoring therapy for benign inflammatory conditions.

Key Messages

EUS plays an indispensable role in pancreatology and the development of new diagnostic and interventional approaches to the retroperitoneal space and the pancreas exponentially increased over the last years. The development of computer-aided diagnosis and artificial intelligence algorithms hold the potential to overcome the obstacles associated with interobserver variability and will most likely support decision-making in the management of pancreatic disease.

Brunner’s gland hyperplasia associated with lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas presenting with gastrointestinal bleeding: A case report

BACKGROUND

Brunner’s gland hyperplasia (BGH) is a rare benign lesion of the duodenum. Lipomatous pseudohypertrophy (LiPH) of the pancreas is an extremely rare disease. Because each condition is rare, the probability of purely coincidental coexistence of both conditions is extremely low.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 26-year-old man presenting to our hospital with symptoms of recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a huge pedunculated polypoid lesion in the duodenum with bleeding at the base of the lesion. Histopathological examination of the duodenal biopsy specimens showed BGH. Besides, abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed marked fat replacement over the entire pancreas, confirmed by histopathological evaluation on percutaneous pancreatic biopsies. Based on the radiological and histological findings, LiPH of the pancreas and BGH were diagnosed. The patient refused any surgical intervention. Therefore, he was managed with supportive treatment. The patient’s symptoms improved and there was no further bleeding.

CONCLUSION

This is the first well-documented case showing the coexistence of LiPH of the pancreas and BGH.

A rare case of lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas

Lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas is a rare disease with unknown etiology, and the pancreas parenchyma is replaced by pancreatic parenchyma by fat tissue. In this article, we aimed to report the case of a 26-year-old male patient admitted to hospital with loss of appetite for 6 months. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed diffuse enlargement and fatty replacement over the whole pancreas, with scattered remnants of pancreatic parenchyma. Histologic results defined lipomatous pseudohypertrophy of the pancreas. To summarize, this case report is to put forward this extremely rare presentation and to sensitize clinicians that this entity can be a cause of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which requires patient follow-up for the appropriate treatment.

Benign Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions of the Pancreas

The pancreas is a complex organ that may give rise to large number of neoplasms and non-neoplastic lesions. This article focuses on benign neoplasms, such as serous neoplasms, and tumorlike (pseudotumoral) lesions that may be mistaken for neoplasm not only by clinicians and radiologists, but also by pathologists. The family of pancreatic pseudotumors, by a loosely defined conception of that term, includes a variety of lesions including heterotopia, hamartoma, and lipomatous pseudohypertrophy. Autoimmune pancreatitis and paraduodenal ("groove") pancreatitis may also lead to pseudotumor formation. Knowledge of these entities will help in making an accurate diagnosis.