Massive Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage in Brunner's Gland Hamartoma of Duodenum

Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is a rare benign small bowel tumor, mostly encountered in the duodenum. Massive upper gastrointestinal (UGI) hemorrhage is an unusual presentation rarely reported in English literature. Symptomatic patients mostly present with features of gastric outlet obstruction, occult bleeding, or intussusception. Herein, we report a case of BGH presenting with overt UGI bleed and features of gastric outlet obstruction. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a smooth polypoidal swelling in the posterior wall of the duodenal bulb. An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided fine-needle-aspiration was performed, which was inconclusive. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed the absence of any extraluminal component of the lesion. Endoscopic polypectomy was attempted but failed due to the broad base of the lesion, and hence the patient was managed by open surgical excision. Histological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis to be BGH. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was doing well at the 15-month follow-up. BGH should be considered as a differential diagnosis of a polypoidal lesion of the duodenum. Any lesion larger than 2 cm or symptomatic should be removed either by endoscopic or surgical intervention.