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Duodenal diverticulum: incidental finding with potentially dangerous outcomes
Stephen Melnick1, Shoaib Fareedy1, David Gish1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Health System, 6th and Spruce, West Reading, PA, USA.
An incidental CT scan revealed a large duodenal diverticulum in an elderly patient presenting with non-specific pain. This case highlights the importance of recognizing duodenal diverticula and their potential complications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Radiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Duodenal diverticula are outpouchings in the duodenum, often asymptomatic.
- Their diagnosis can be challenging due to non-specific symptoms.
Observation:
- An 83-year-old female with a history of schizoaffective disorder presented with generalized pain.
- Computed tomography (CT) imaging of the chest and abdomen was performed due to the non-specific complaint.
- Incidental finding of a large duodenal diverticulum during CT imaging.
Findings:
- The CT scan identified a significant duodenal diverticulum.
- The patient's presenting symptom of 'pain' was non-specific, leading to incidental imaging findings.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering duodenal diverticula in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, even in elderly patients.
- It highlights the role of advanced imaging in identifying incidental gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- Further discussion on the incidence and potential complications of duodenal diverticula is warranted.
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