Korean J Med.  2013 Feb;84(2):249-253.

A Case of Duodenal Diverticulum Mimicking a Peripancreatic Abscess

• Kim SY
• Kim JN
• Kwon SO
• Cha IH
• Ryu SH
• Kim YS
• Moon JS

Abstract

The duodenum is the second most common site, after the colon, of diverticuli in the alimentary tract. Although most patients with duodenal diverticuli are asymptomatic, previous studies have demonstrated a possible association between duodenal diverticuli and choledocholithiasis and pancreatitis. In addition, duodenal diverticuli mimicking periampullary tumors and cystic neoplasms of the pancreas have been reported. We report a case of a duodenal diverticulum that mimicked a peripancreatic abscess. A 65-year-old woman was admitted for epigastric pain and vomiting. Abdominal CT confirmed the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Follow-up abdominal CT performed for a sustained fever revealed several newly developed peripancreatic abscesses. Most of the abscesses were drained percutaneously, but those around the uncinate process seldom respond to treatment. This patient was confirmed to have a duodenal diverticulum by endoscopy and duodenography. Duodenal diverticuli must be considered in a differential diagnosis of peripancreatic abscesses.

Keyword

Duodenal diverticulum; Acute pancreatitis; Peripancreatic abscess

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Choledocholithiasis
Colon
Diagnosis, Differential
Diverticulum
Duodenum
Endoscopy
Female
Fever
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Pancreas
Pancreatitis
Vomiting