Two cases of Hemosuccus pancreaticus after stereotactic radiotherapy to the pancreas: A case study

Abstract

Hemosuccus Pancreaticus (HP) is a very rare upper gastro-intestinal haemorrhagic event whose causes can be aneurismal lesions, acute and chronic pancreatic inflammatory conditions, and pancreatic masses. We present 2 cases of patients who underwent stereotactic radiotherapy for pancreatic lesions who manifested signs of HP after treatment. Two male patients were diagnosed with an inoperable locally advanced pancreatic cancer and underwent 8 cycles of chemotherapy followed by stereotactic radiotherapy to the pancreatic lesion delivering 40Gy in 8 fractions. The first patient complained of melena and had a necrotic tumoural mass with a new aneurysmal bulge 3 months after the SBRT. A stent was placed in the aneurysmal lesion, however, a few days later, the bleeding occurred again and the patient died. The other patient had local tumour progression 12 months after SBRT with a pancreatic mass eroding the near vessels. He developed a fast and massive bleeding. HP may occur after SBRT. Inflammation of the tumour mass can lead to erosion of the vessels with subsequent bleeding. The radiotherapy treatment may have contributed to the HP genesis. The treatment is complex and consists of the placement of a stent or surgery.

Keywords: Cancer pancréatique; Hemosuccus Pancreaticus; Pancreatic cancer; SBRT.