Duodenal
varices are ectopic
varices that are rare but can involve any site along the digestive tract outside the gastroesophageal region. Ectopic variceal
bleeding is generally massive and life threatening; the mortality rate is approximately 40%. Up to 17% of ectopic
varices occur in the duodenum. However, duodenal
varices pose a significant therapeutic challenge due to the lack of standard treatment guidelines. We report a case of duodenal variceal
bleeding secondary to portal vein
stenosis in a 77-year-old woman receiving
chemotherapy for unresectable
perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The patient presented with
melena,
nausea,
vomiting and unstable vital signs suggestive of
hemorrhagic shock. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed large nodular
varices with a ruptured erosion on top in the superior duodenal angle, and variceal
bleeding had stopped by the time of the procedure. Subsequent computed tomography showed the development of portosystemic collaterals; therefore, we performed percutaneous portal vein
stent placement to reduce portal vein pressure. Since persistent
bleeding was suspected, we also performed endoscopic injection
sclerotherapy and achieved successful hemostasis with an improvement in liver function. This case revealed that a combination of portal vein
stent placement and endoscopic injection
sclerotherapy might be an effective
therapy for duodenal variceal
bleeding caused by portal vein
stenosis.