A 56-year-old man with pancreatic cancer underwent palliative placement of a biliary
self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) for obstructive jaundice after chemoradiation
(nine cycles over 5 months). He presented with melena but denied abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting,
or hematemesis. Hemoglobin concentration was 6.5 g/dL and serum bilirubin 1.0 mg/dL
(normal: 13.8 – 17.2 g/dL and < 1.9 mg/dL, respectively). Abdominal CT with intravenous
contrast showed pneumobilia and mucosal hyperenhancement in the gastroduodenal area.
After blood transfusion, an upper endoscopy was performed which showed that the duodenal
bulb was extrinsically compressed and eroding medially through the duodenal wall with
the covered biliary SEMS ([Fig. 1]) surrounded by a large circumferential ulcer ([Fig. 2]). No active bleeding was seen and no therapeutic intervention was performed. The
patient continued to have melenic stools. Subsequent colonoscopy was unremarkable.
Mesenteric angiography was performed in attempt to prophylactically embolize the gastroduodenal
artery, but was technically unsuccessful because of a narrowed gastroduodenal artery
which was not actively bleeding. The patient died from exsanguination later that day.
Fig. 1 Biliary stent in a 56-year-old man with pancreatic cancer, placed to treat obstructive
jaundice following chemoradiation.
Fig. 2 Duodenal ulceration around the stent.
Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is a rare complication of SEMS caused by tumor invasion,
stent migration [1], or chemoradiation, with a 3 % – 5 % incidence of spontaneous biliary–enteric fistula
[2]. CDF associated with SEMS induced by chemoradiation has not been previously reported.
In our patient, thinning of the posteromedial duodenal wall secondary to chemoradiation
and tumor burden was considered to be responsible for spontaneous CDF as a delayed
complication of stent placement.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CPL_1AK_2AI
