Pseudoaneurysm of the celiac trunk following acute pancreatitis. Case report

The most common visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) is the splenic artery aneurysm (SAA), but other splanchnic vessels also may be affected by dilation.1,2 The dilation which does not affect all layers of the vessel wall is called pseudoaneurysm (PSAN). Blunt trauma of the upper abdomen and enzymatic injury to the vessel wall in pancreatitis are the most common causes of PSAN. Vessel rupture causes the formation of haematoma, consecutively surrounded by fibrous capsule.3 Bleeding into the pseudocysts can also result in PSAN formation. The incidence of PSAN in patients with severe acute pancreatitis is up to 10%, and the affection of the celiac trunk is relatively rare.3-5 Although it may be asymptomatic, the patients with VAA often suffer from the pain in the upper abdomen, or have gastrointestinal or peritoneal bleeding.4 Rupture is a serious complication seen in up to 37% of SAA, reRadiol Oncol 2002; 36(3): 209-14.