[An unusual cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage: pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery in chronic pancreatitis].

Pseudoaneurysm of the peripancreatic arteries is a typical cause of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients with chronic pancreatitis. 1-10% of chronic pancreatitis are associated with an a pseudoaneurysm, especially of the splenic or gastroduodenal artery. Endoscopy often is not successful in finding the cause of bleeding. Sonography, especially color Doppler ultrasound, is the best diagnostic tool, indicating the need for celiac angiography. We report on a 59-year-old woman with recurrent severe GIB since 1995. In 1998 another bleeding occurred and sonography showed a pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery. Typical criteria are an echo-free, pulsatile lesion with an ring-like border. Color Doppler proves a turbulent perfusion inside and shows the feeding vessel. A transcatheter embolization with stainless steel coils was successful, six months later the pseudoaneurysm was mainly obliterated.