Successful management of life-threatening bleeding of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in the pancreatic head

Abstract

Complications associated with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, such as acute pancreatitis, perforation, and fistula formation, have been documented. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with intratumoral hemorrhage is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm rupture and bleeding with intra-abdominal hemorrhage. A 74-year-old woman complained of acute upper right abdominal pain. She was under follow-up for an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in the pancreatic head. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm rupture and bleeding with intra-abdominal hemorrhage. The bleeding was treated with selective endovascular embolization of a branch of the gastroduodenal artery. Follow-up examinations are recommended even for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm patients without malignant findings because of the potential risk of rupture and bleeding with intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility to ensure that patients are appropriately treated.