Gastroenterology image challenge: A 70-year-old man with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor of the duodenum underwent robotic subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). During the surgery, retrocolic reconstruction for pancreaticojejunostomy and hepaticojejunostomy, as well as antecolic reconstruction for gastrojejunostomy, were performed. Surgical anatomy following these reconstructions is illustrated in figure A. The patient’s postoperative follow-up was uneventful. Six months later, the patient underwent a barium swallow test for a medical checkup at another hospital. The examination found no significant findings in the stomach, but revealed reflux of the barium sulfate into the intrahepatic biliary trees through the afferent loop (figure B).
After the barium swallow test on that day, the patient was referred to our hospital. He complained only of fever, but did not demonstrate other symptoms. The laboratory findings showed the following unremarkable changes: white blood cell, 6920/μL; total bilirubin, 0.89 mg/dL; direct bilirubin, 0.25 mg/dL; aspartate transaminase 23 U/L; alanine aminotransferase, 22 U/L; and C-reactive protein, 0.76 mg/dL. The abdominal computed tomography revealed retained barium sulfate in the bilateral biliary system (figure C).
What is the treatment strategy for this patient?
To find out, read the full case in Gastroenterology.
