Gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to pancreatic head biopsy

Pseudoaneurysms of the gastroduodenal artery are rare. They are usually postoperative or postprocedure complications or secondary to pancreatitis. Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal bleeding are the most common symptoms. Once diagnosed, pseudoaneurysms require immediate treatment because they have a potential to rupture, which is associated with a high rate of mortality. Transcatheter selective embolotherapy is the procedure of choice for this clinical entity. We report the case of an 80-year-old woman in whom a visceral artery pseudoaneurysm developed secondary to a percutaneous pancreatic head biopsy. Computed tomography (CT) and sonography provided the initial diagnosis for a pseudoaneurysm of the gastroduodenal artery, which was confirmed by celiac arteriography and successfully treated by arterial embolization. We discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of visceral pseudoaneurysms.