Case report of Brunner’s gland hyperplasia: A rare “mimic” of malignant pathology

INTRODUCTION: Brunner’s gland hyperplasia is a rare, benign lesion of the duodenum. The symptomology can range from asymptomatic (as an incidental finding on endoscopy) to gastrointestinal obstruction or haemorrhage. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 60-year-old man presenting with post-prandial vomiting and weight loss. Inpatient evaluation led to the likely diagnosis of a duodenal malignancy for which the patient underwent a laparotomy and proximal duodenectomy. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Brunner’s gland hyperplasia is a rare, benign condition that can be overtreated due to the difficulty in obtaining an accurate pre-operative diagnosis. The literature has been reviewed to discuss the approach to diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the potential for Brunner’s gland hyperplasia mimicking a malignancy.