Upper gastrintestinal bleeding due to Brunner's gland hamartoma: case report and literature review

Abstract

AIMS: To present the case report of a patient with Brunner's gland hamartoma identified after investigation for hematemesis and melena. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 52 years old male patient presented with hematemesis and melena, being hospitalized and evolving with hemodynamic instability and cardiac arrest. After clinical stability in the intensive care unit, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, and a 3 cm duodenal polypoid lesion with active bleeding was identified. The lesion was removed and the histopathological examination revealed a Brunner's gland hamartoma. CONCLUSIONS: Despite hamartoma of Brunner's glands being a benign and rare disease, with indolent growth and often asymptomatic, it can cause a severe clinical picture as described in this report, and therefore it should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding