Portal Cavernoma Mimicking Pancreatic Malignancy

Abstract

Portal cavernoma colangiopathy (PCC) is an uncommon cause of portal hypertension, and it is an important differential diagnosis of pancreatic malignancy given the expanded network of collateral vessels. On imaging studies, portal cavernoma can be seen as a hypoechoic mass, possibly associated with distal common bile duct obstruction. Most cases occur in non-cirrhotic patients. During the symptomatic phase, these patients carry a high-risk of complications related to sustained biliary obstruction. We report a unique patient with obstructive jaundice and a presumed pancreatic mass that proved to be a portal cavernoma complicated by PCC in the setting of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver.