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A rare pancreatic pseudoaneurysm in patient with acute pancreatitis and multiple myeloma

Giovanni Li Destri1, Vanessa Innao, Giuseppe Petrillo

  • 1Department of Surgical Sciences, Organ Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. g.lidestri@unict.it

Annali Italiani Di Chirurgia
|August 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Multiple myeloma treatment may trigger acute pancreatitis. A patient developed pancreatitis and a pseudoaneurysm, successfully treated conservatively without invasive procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Hematology
  • Vascular Surgery

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy.
  • Acute pancreatitis is a potential complication.
  • Vascular complications, such as pseudoaneurysms, can arise from pancreatitis.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old patient with multiple myeloma developed acute pancreatitis.
  • The pancreatitis led to pseudoaneurysmal dilatation of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery.
  • This pseudoaneurysm eroded the duodenum, causing hematemesis.

Findings:

  • Bortezomib, a treatment for multiple myeloma, is hypothesized to have triggered the pancreatitis.
  • Pancreatic enzymes likely caused the pseudoaneurysm and subsequent pseudocyst formation.
  • Computed tomography (CT) diagnosed the vascular complication, avoiding invasive angiography.

Implications:

  • Conservative management of the pseudoaneurysm led to full recovery.
  • This case highlights a potential link between multiple myeloma therapy and pancreatitis.
  • Non-invasive diagnosis and conservative treatment are crucial for managing such rare complications.

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