Hemosuccus pancreaticus in Glanzmann thrombasthenia: implication of scintigraphy in gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) of unknown origin.

A 33-year-old man with Glanzmann thrombasthenia, enduring retractable melena, and with an active upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) of unknown origin lasting intermittently for 6 months, was admitted. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography were not diagnostic. The patient underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy twice, both of which showed blood issuing forth from ampulla of vater and possible diagnoses of bleeding from papilla/hematobilia or hemosuccus pancreaticus were suspected. Digital subtraction angiography of celiac/superior mesenteric arteries was unremarkable. In GIB scintigraphy, a focus of activity appeared in the epigastric area early in the study (arrow), intensity of which increased gradually. Exploratory laparatomy confirmed the diagnosis of hemosuccus pancreaticus. Although the patient was doing well for few weeks after the surgery, he died 3 months later after an acute episode of severe GIB.