Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Jan;57(1):38-41. 10.4166/kjg.2011.57.1.38.

Spontaneous Dissolution of Isolated Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis in Acute Pancreatitis

• Na BS
• John BM
• Kim KB
• Lee JS
• Jo HW
• Seock CH
• Kim DH
• Lee KS

• KMID: 991467
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.57.1.38

Abstract

Acute pancreatitis can result in many vascular complications in both artery and vein. Venous complication usually occurs as a form of splenic or portal vein thrombosis, and also can simultaneously occur in superior mesenteric vein as well. Rarely, isolated superior mesenteric vein thrombosis occurs as a venous complication. Although it is uncommon, mesenteric vein thrombosis is an important clinical entity because of the possibility of mesenteric ischemia and infarction of small bowel. The treatments of mesenteric venous thrombosis include anticoagulation therapy, transcatheter therapy and surgical intervention. We report a case of 45-year-old man who had acute pancreatitis with isolated superior mesenteric vein thrombosis, which was spontaneously dissolved with the resolution of underlying inflammation without anticoagulation or surgical intervention.

Keyword

Mesenteric vein; Thrombosis; Pancreatitis

MeSH Terms

Acute Disease
Humans
Male
*Mesenteric Veins
Middle Aged
Pancreatitis/complications/*diagnosis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Venous Thrombosis/*diagnosis/etiology/radiography

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Abdominal CT findings. (A) At admission, axial CT image showed pancreatic edema, peripancreatic fat infiltration and small amount fluid collection compatible with acute pancreatitis. (B) Coronal CT image showed a low attenuation filling defect in the enlarged superior mesenteric vein (arrow).

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  Fig. 2. Abdominal CT findings. Six weeks later, coronal CT image showed complete dissolution of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (arrow).

Reference

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