Surgical resection of arteriovenous malformation of the pancreatic head with acute pancreatitis: a case report

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the pancreas. AVMs cause complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding, portal hypertension and pancreatitis. Therefore, a treatment strategy is not yet established. Surgical treatment or transcatheter arterial embolization is performed in patients with AVM, considering their conditions. A 54-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis due to AVM of the pancreatic head using dynamic computed tomography. Endoscopic ultrasonography further revealed meandering blood vessels in the pancreatic head. The patient underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histological examination revealed AVM of the pancreatic head with chronic pancreatitis. The patient had a good postoperative clinical course and was discharged on postoperative day 22. He remained asymptomatic. Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be considered an effective treatment method for selected cases of symptomatic AVM of the pancreatic head.