Case Report
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World J Gastrointest Surg. Jun 27, 2013; 5(6): 192-194
Published online Jun 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i6.192
A rare cause of obstructive jaundice and gastric outlet obstruction
Florence Jeune, Gaspard d’Assignies, Alain Sauvanet, Sébastien Gaujoux
Florence Jeune, Alain Sauvanet, Sébastien Gaujoux, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (PMAD), AP-HP, Beaujon Hospital, 92110 Clichy, France
Gaspard d’Assignies, Department of Radiology, Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (PMAD), AP-HP, Beaujon Hospital, 92110 Clichy, France
Gaspard d’Assignies, Alain Sauvanet, Sébastien Gaujoux, University Paris 7 Denis Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Sébastien Gaujoux, MD, PhD, Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (PMAD), AP-HP, Hospital Beaujon, 100, Bd du Général Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France. sebastien.gaujoux@gmail.com
Telephone: +33-6-64926656 Fax: +33-1-40871724
Received: February 20, 2013
Revised: April 22, 2013
Accepted: May 18, 2013
Published online: June 27, 2013
Processing time: 124 Days and 14.5 Hours
Abstract

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal obstruction, and is characterized by 3rd duodenal obstruction between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. Classical symptoms are postprandial epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss, or acute upper gastrointestinal obstruction. We herein describe an unusual presentation, with jaundice due to compression of the common bile duct by the gastric obstruction and dilated duodenum.

Keywords: Upper gastrointestinal obstruction; Superior mesenteric artery syndrome; Obstructive jaundice

Core tip: Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal obstruction, with sometime unusual presentation, as in the present case, obstructive jaundice. Clinicians need to be aware of this rare situation and its main radiographic sign i.e., extraluminal compression of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta.