Congenital absence of the splenic artery and splenic vein accompanied with a duodenal ulcer and deformity

World J Gastroenterol. 2009 Mar 21;15(11):1401-3. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1401.

Abstract

Congenital absence of the splenic artery is a very rare condition. To the best of our knowledge, congenital absence of the splenic artery accompanied with absence of the splenic vein has not been reported. We report a case of the absence of the splenic artery and vein in a 61-year-old woman who presented with postprandial epigastric discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a dilated, pulsatile vessel in the fundus and duodenal stenosis. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed absence of the splenic vein with a tortuously engorged gastroepiploic vein. Three-dimensional CT demonstrated the tortuously dilated left gastric artery and the left gastroepiploic artery with non-visualization of the splenic artery. After administration of a proton pump inhibitor, abdominal symptoms resolved without any recurrence of symptoms during 6 mo of follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / therapeutic use
  • Duodenal Ulcer / diagnosis
  • Duodenal Ulcer / diagnostic imaging
  • Duodenal Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Duodenal Ulcer / pathology*
  • Duodenum / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Rabeprazole
  • Splenic Artery / abnormalities*
  • Splenic Vein / abnormalities*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Rabeprazole