Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum demonstrated by ultrasonography

A 57 year-old man presented with abdominal discomfort and melena. Abdominal ultrasonography clearly revealed a duodenal tumor as a hypoechoic mass in the transverse segment of the duodenum. The lesion was a 4 x 4-cm oval mass with partial concavity, an irregular surface, high-level central echoes, and a hypoechoic periphery. After confirmation of the diagnosis of duodenal carcinoma, a pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy was performed curatively. Pathological examination revealed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma partially invading the pancreatic parenchyma. Ultrasonography can be used to detect lesions of the transverse segment of the duodenum as the first imaging procedure.