Transcatheter Arterial Embolization of Pancreatic Arteriovenous Malformation Presenting as Retroperitoneal Bleeding: A Case Report

Pancreatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare condition defined as a tumorous formation or vascular anomaly arising from an aberrant bypass anastomosis of the arterial and venous systems in the pancreas (1). Esophageal varix bleeding by portal venous hypertension is the most common complication of pancreatic AVM. Duodenal ulcer bleeding or bleeding from the pancreatic AVM itself are other causes of bleeding associated with this disease entity. Pancreatic AVM presenting as retroperitoneal bleeding is an extremely rare clinical condition and is often misdiagnosed as a pseudoaneurysm. Treatment may include ligation of the afferent artery, embolization of feeding vessels, portacaval shunting, or surgical resection of the affected part or the entire affected organ (2). We report a case of pancreatic AVM presenting as a mesenteric hemorrhage that was successfully treated with transcatheter arterial embolization using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA). CASE REPORT