BRUNNER’S GLAND ADENOMA PRESENTING WITH GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING: A DISCUSSION OF WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
Abstract
Brunner’s gland adenoma (BGA) is an exceedingly rare benign neoplasm of the small bowel, accounting for about 5-10% of the total benign duodenal lesion and typically found in the 5th or 6th decade of life (3,14), though there are also cases where the adenoma was discovered in children (3). It can symptomatically mimic dangerous duodenal lesion such as adenocarcinoma and normally diagnosed histopatologically (8)
Brunner’s gland is typically found at the highest concentration in proximal duodenum. It secretes highly thick vicious alkaline fluid that protects the intestinal mucosa from any insult from the gastric secretions. It also produces hormone that inhibit gastric acid secretion called enterogastrone.
Brunner’s gland adenoma is usually asymptomatic and occasionally manifest as duodenal obstruction and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (3,5). Since most patient of Brunner’s gland adenoma is asymptomatic, it is usually found incidentally during endoscopies of upper gastrointestinal tract (8,12) different from our clinical case. We are reporting a 48 year old lady who presented to our clinic with persistent vomiting after meal and hematemesis secondary to Brunner’s Gland Adenoma which required a polypectomy by endoscopy under sedation as a definitive treatment for her symptoms.
Keywords: Brunner’s Gland, Adenoma, Case Report, Anemia, Peptic Duodenitis