Unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Report of the case of hemorrhagic duodenal lipoma with review of the literature

Abstract

Duodenal lipomas are uncommon and rare causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. Here, we present the case of a 45-yearold male patient who was admitted to University Clinical Centre because of melaena. After initial diagnostics, including echosonography, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed bleeding from protruding blood vessel at the polypoid submucosal change in the posterior duodenal bulb. Upon two urgent unsuccessful endoscopic hemostasis, a duodenotomy was performed. Definitive diagnosis was based on histological findings, describing duodenal lipoma with Bruner’s gland hyperplasia. Upper GI bleeding is a serious challenge that requires adequate diagnostics necessary for the right choice of therapeutic approach. Unsuccessful endoscopic hemostasis could be followed by serious complications in bleeding duodenal lipoma when surgery should be always considered as the treatment of choice in patients with this kind of bleeding tumor.