Published online Apr 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i8.1471
First decision: March 21, 2020
Revised: April 9, 2020
Accepted: April 17, 2020
Article in press: April 17, 2020
Published online: April 26, 2020
Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare disease with a number of different reported treatment methods, but there are as yet no established or definite treatments for the disease.
A 43-year-old man visited the hospital due to periumbilical pain. The patient underwent imaging study and laboratory testing for evaluation of cause. Pancreatic AVM associated with pancreatitis was suspected on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was diagnosed with pancreatic AVM with pancreatitis on imaging study and angiography. Transcatheter arterial embolization with various embolic materials was performed. Follow-up computed tomography scan revealed progressive regression of AVM and improvement of pancreatitis. At two-year follow-up, the patient showed no recurrence of symptom or pancreatitis.
Transcatheter arterial embolization can be considered an effective treatment modality for selective cases of pancreatic AVM.
Core tip: Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare disease. Symptoms of AVM are variable. Gastrointestinal bleeding and abdominal pain have been commonly reported. A treatment of choice for pancreatic AVM has not been established yet. Medical treatment, radiation therapy, surgery, and embolization have been reported in previous papers. Transcatheter arterial embolization could be considered safe and effective treatment modality for selective cases of pancreatic AVM.