A 63-year-old man was hospitalized for work-up of noncardiac chest pain. Laboratory
data on admission showed hypochromia (25pg; normal range 27-31pg) and microcytosis
(79fl; normal range 80-95fl), with a normal hemoglobin level of 14.4 g/dl (normal
range 14-18 g/dl). An upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal
polypoid lesion adjacent to the major papilla (Figure [1]). Biopsy specimens from the mucosa overlying this lesion showed normal duodenal
mucosa. An endosonographic examination was also carried out, and it showed a round,
well-demarcated, hypoechoic, submucosal tumor in the third layer just distal to the
papilla of Vater (Figure [2]). There was no invasion of the muscularis propria. There were no pathological lymph
nodes around the duodenum and celiac trunk.
Figure 1 A polypoid tumor (T) is seen adjacent to the papilla of Vater (P).
Figure 2 Endoscopic ultrasonography (12MHz) of the tumor, showing a round, hypoechoic lesion
measuring 1.1 cm in the submucosa. There is no invasion of the muscularis propria.
It was decided to remove the process for histological evaluation. The lesion was approached
with a duodenoscope. A mucosectomy was carried out after submucosal injection with
normal saline. Arterial bleeding developed, which was controlled with an injection
of 1 : 10 000 epinephrine and placement of four clips. After hemostasis, a round,
yellow tumor was visualized in the submucosa (Figure [3]). The submucosal tumor was removed with a snare. The opening of the major papilla
was not touched. Repeat bleeding occurred on the same day of the procedure and was
treated with placement of two more clips (Figure [4]). An endoscopic check-up examination 2 days later showed no signs of further or
impending bleeding. No early or late complications, such as pancreatitis or stenosis
of the common bile duct, developed.
Figure 3 After ablation of the mucosa and control of bleeding in the distal margin of the lesion,
requiring hemostasis with clips, a yellow, roundish tumor (T) was visualized.
Figure 4 The situation at end of the intervention, after hemostasis and snare resection of
the tumor. No lesions are evident at the papilla of Vater (P). There is some tissue
edema due to injection of the diluted epinephrine solution.
The histological examination showed a gangliocytic paraganglioma, 11 mm in size. There
was a characteristic histological pattern, with three distinct cell populations: epithelial
cells in nests and arranged in a trabecular pattern, spindle cells in fascicles, and
large, irregularly shaped cells reminiscent of gangliocytes.
Gangliocytic paragangliomas were first described in 1962 [1]. Since then, more than 130 cases have been reported [2]. Most of these tumors were removed surgically. Gangliocytic paragangliomas are mostly
benign, but there have been reports of regional lymph-node metastasis [3]. Duodenal gangliocytic paragangliomas are found most often in close proximity to
the major papilla [4]. Endoscopic removal of a gangliocytic paraganglioma is an alternative to surgical
resection when regional lymph-node involvement has been excluded with imaging studies,
as in the present case using endoscopic ultrasound. However, care has to be taken
to avoid injury to the papilla, and one must be prepared to encounter and treat bleeding.
