Abstract

Splenic arterial pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon life-threatening complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Pseudoaneurysm can lead to massive bleeding into the abdominal cavity and the retroperitoneum. Less commonly, it may rupture directly into the stomach, small bowel or pancreatic duct and may present as an acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. It can be diagnosed by various imaging modalities including computerized tomography, ultrasound and angiography. Percutaneous transvascular embolization of the pseudoaneurysm is one of the alternative treatment methods. Here we present a case of splenic arterial pseudoaneurysmal rupture misrecognized as bleeding from a gastric submucosal tumor in patient with hematemesis. We also review the literature. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2010;40:387-390)

• Keywords: Splenic artery, Pseudoaneurysm, Submucosal tumor, Embolization