Arteriovenous malformation in the pancreatic head initially mimicking a hypervascular mass treated with duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The mainstay treatment for arteriovenous malformation in the pancreatic head (Ph-AVM) is standard pancreatectomy, especially pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), or interventional endovascular treatment. We report the first case of Ph-AVM treated with duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) performed to preserve the periampullary organs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old man presenting with back pain underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography followed by angiography of the anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. He was diagnosed with Ph-AVM and indicated for DPPHR with preservation of the periampullary organs; Ph-AVM's benign nature seldom requires lymph node dissection. During the operation, the right colon was mobilized and the omental bursa was released to expose the periampullary structures. The pancreas was transected just above the superior mesenteric vein. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and papillary arteries branching from the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery were carefully preserved to maintain the blood flow to the lower bile duct and papilla of Vater. The remnant pancreas was reconstructed with pancreaticogastrostomy using the modified Blumgart method. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed an irregular course of the arteries and veins concomitant with marked dilation throughout the pancreatic head. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with Ph-AVM. He developed hematemesis caused by a rupture of the pseudoaneurysm on postoperative day 20 and underwent coil embolization. A bilio-enteric fistula and stenosis of the common bile duct were found and treated by placement of an endoscopic biliary stent. At the 8-month follow-up, the Ph-AVM had not recurred. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to PD, DPPHR confers the clinical benefit of preserving the periampullary organs, although further studies are needed to confirm this. Therefore, the choice of this procedure should be based on the surgical morbidities and long-term outcome of the patient.

Freezing effect on brain density in postmortem CT.

Two 60-year-old males were found at their homes whose bodies had deteriorated due to putrefaction. To prevent worm invasion and minimize deterioration, dry ice was used prior to the autopsy investigation. Prior to autopsy, postmortem CT demonstrated a decreased density in brain parenchyma at the dry-iced side, and autopsy revealed deteriorated brain parenchyma with frozen effect (presented like sherbet). Moreover, the deteriorated cerebral parenchyma maintained their structure and they were evaluated by cutting. When lower CT density presents in postmortem CT, the freezing effect may need to be considered and the physician should evaluate the cadaver's postmortem condition to prevent misdiagnoses.

New pitfalls of high-density postmortem computed tomography.

An 80-year-old female was transferred to the hospital due to a traffic accident. Multiple cranial bone fractures with intracranial hemorrhage and intracranial air were detected. Despite treatment, the patient died after 6h. Twenty-one hours after the patient died, her whole body was scanned by postmortem CT, and a region of high density was detected within the left putamen. The autopsy revealed a cerebral contusion and multiple skull base fractures. Moreover, superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were found within the left lateral ventricle and adjacent to the putamen, which appeared as a high-density lesion on postmortem CT at the left putamen, where the SAPs were compacted. Both ante- and postmortem conditions should be considered to prevent misdiagnoses based only on postmortem CT.