Lemmel’s Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Obstructive Jaundice Secondary to Periampullary Diverticulum

Abstract

In 1934 Lemmel was the first to report the presence of juxtapapillary diverticula and hepatocholangiopancreatic disease, excluding cholelithiasis. Obstructive jaundice caused by periampullary duodenal diverticulum (PAD) in absence of choledocholithiasis or tumor is known as Lemmel syndrome. A patient with an extraluminal duodenal diverticulum presenting with obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis is presented in this case. Although initially managed conservatively, the patient had recurrence of symptoms after 2 months but then had successful surgical resection of the duodenal diverticulum.

LEARNING POINTS

• Lemmel’s syndrome should be considered in patients with pancreaticobiliary disease in the absence of tumors, stricture, or cholelithiasis.

• Non-invasive imaging studies should be considered first but endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains the diagnostic method of choice.

• Surgical resection (diverticulectomy), endoscopic sphincterotomy, and papillary balloon dilatation are treatment options when conservative management fails.

INTRODUCTION

Lemmel’s syndrome is defined as obstructive jaundice caused by periampullary duodenal diverticulum (PAD) in absence of choledocholithiasis or tumor. A duodenal diverticulum is a sac-like out-pouching of the duodenal mucosa. Duodenal diverticula are mostly asymptomatic and found incidentally in up to 22% of the population, out of which less than 10% are symptomatic.

These are categorized into extramural and intramural diverticula, the majority of which are extra-luminal. Extra-luminal duodenal diverticulum (EDD) is a herniation acquired from a defect in the bowel wall due to entrance of vessels. Intramural duodenal diverticulum (IDD) is a rare congenital anomaly resulting from incomplete canalization of the lumen. Clinicians should always consider diverticulum as a possible cause of pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice ^[1–5].

CASE PRESENTATION

A rare case of a 69-year-old male is reported. He presented with abrupt onset of sharp epigastric pain, 10/10 in intensity, radiating to his back, worse in supine position and relieved by bending forward. The symptoms started 2–3 hours after a family dinner during the evening prior to admission. He denied any history of alcohol abuse or cholelithiasis. Murphy’s sign was equivocal on exam. Triglycerides on admission were 151mg/dL, infectious hepatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis work-up (ig-G subclasses) were negative. However, lipase was elevated at 5168 IU/L so the patient was made NPO and started on intravenous fluids. Total bilirubin peaked at 2.9mg/dL and direct bilirubin at 1.4mg/dL on day-3. Transaminases were grossly normal on presentation but later peaked with ALT of 50 IU/L and AST of 59 IU/L on day-3. Alkaline phosphatase remained borderline elevated (156 IU/L). CT scan demonstrated diffuse stranding around the pancreatic head and adjacent duodenum (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

CT scan demonstrating diffuse stranding around the pancreatic head and adjacent duodenum

MRCP confirmed a 1.1 cm ovoid cystic lesion adjacent to the descending duodenum consistent with a duodenal diverticulum (Fig. 2).

Figure 2.

MRCP showing a 1.1 cm ovoid cystic lesion adjacent to the descending duodenum consistent with a duodenal diverticulum

The pancreatic duct was also moderately dilated but it was decided to proceed with medical management since LFTs started trending down and were normal by day-6. Mechanical obstruction caused by extrinsic compression of the duodenal diverticulum was considered to be responsible for the obstructive jaundice and pancreatitis. Eight weeks later the patient had a second episode of obstructive jaundice and underwent surgical resection of the duodenal diverticulum, not only confirming the diagnosis but also resulting in resolution of his symptoms.

DISCUSSION

Most of the duodenal diverticula are true, comprising only the mucosal outpouching without any muscle layer. They are primarily solitary diverticula and up to 75% arise out of the second part of the duodenum in proximity to the ampulla of Vater^[3]. Extra-luminal diverticulum, found within a radius of 3 cm from the ampulla of Vater, is known as periampullary diverticulum (PAD)^{[2, 3]}. Their prevalence has been reported as 0.16%–22% depending on the sensitivity of the diagnostic method used. The majority of these diverticula are diagnosed incidentally and are asymptomatic but at times pancreaticobiliary and/or non-pancreaticobiliary complications may occur. Hemorrhage, fistula, or perforation and enterolith formation are the major non-pancreaticobiliary complications and their pathophysiology revolves around inflammation of the diverticulum whereas the pancreaticobiliary complications include gall-bladder and bile-duct stones, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, as well as acute and chronic pancreatitis. These complications are primarily due to the extrinsic compression of Oddi dysfunction by the diverticulum, sphincter, and regurge of intestinal contents in biliary ducts resulting in bacterial overgrowth^[3–5].

Prevalence of PAD has been reported to be as high as 65% in elderly population. Although mostly asymptomatic, it can present albeit rarely as obstructive jaundice in the absence of choledocholithiasis or tumor due to extrinsic compression of the CBD.

This unusual presentation of obstructive jaundice secondary to PAD is often due to an impacted intra-diverticular enterolith and is known as Lemmel’s syndrome^[2].

Diagnosing Lemmel’s syndrome is often very challenging, so great awareness about Lemmel’s syndrome in patients with periampullary diverticula is extremely important in avoiding delays in diagnosis and management of these patients. PADs appear as contrast filled outpouchings, originating from the medial aspect of the duodenum in barium study. CT can show either cystic or solid lesion on the medial wall of descending duodenum often mistaken for pancreatic pseudo-cyst, abscess, or cystic neoplasm. MRCP can be used to distinguish diverticulum from pseudocysts or cystic tumors of the pancreatic head. However, a side-viewing endoscope during ERCP is considered to be the gold-standard diagnostic test ^{[2, 3]}.

Diverticulectomy remains the standard of care, however in patients where diverticulectomy is not possible or the patient is a high-risk surgical candidate, endoscopic sphincterotomy, papillary balloon dilatation and conservative medical management are alternate acceptable options ^{[1, 2]}.