Successful embolization with subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm hemorrhage: a case report and review of literature

Although various complications associated with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms have been reported, including acute pancreatitis, duct perforation, and fistula formation, spontaneous bleeding, especially life-threatening bleeding, is infrequent. In this case, emergency pancreatic resection might be one of the therapeutic options, which is associated with poor postoperative outcomes. An 87-year-old woman presented to our hospital with severe anemia (hemoglobin, 4.5 g/dl). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a large cystic lesion in the pancreatic head measuring 15 cm, with some solid components and an adjacent hematoma, suggestive of intra-cystic hemorrhage of the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. The patient was hemodynamically unstable and had hypotension. After transcatheter arterial embolization, the patient became hemodynamically stable. Subsequently, an elective pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was successfully performed. Preoperative embolization was effective for subsequent elective pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with severe intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm bleeding.