An unusual cause of obstructive jaundice: Lemmel’s syndrome

• DOI: 10.1259/bjrcr.20200166
• Publication Date: 2020-12-02T19:33:21Z
• Authors: Habib Bellamlih; Meryem Echchikhi; Aymane El Farouki; Nabil Moatassim B...; Ittimade Nassar
• Keywords: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine; Cholestasis; Obstructive jaundice; Pathogenesis and Management of Biliary Atresia; Common bile duct; Gastroenterology; Jaundice; Case Report; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Diagnosis and Management of Biliary Tract Disorders; Abdominal Wall Defects; Health Sciences; Etiology and Management of Abdominal Wall Defects; Medicine; Surgery; Bile duct; Internal medicine

Lemmel’s syndrome is a rare and misdiagnosed cause of obstructive jaundice. The cause of the obstacle is a duodenal diverticulum located at the periampullary generating a compression effect on the common bile duct with secondary dilation of the extra- and intra-hepatic bile ducts. Late diagnosis of this entity is common and may lead to unnecessary further investigations and therapeutic delay. There are only few case reports of this rare condition. We report a case of 77-year-old female presenting with obstructive jaundice due to Lemmel’s syndrome. The diagnosis was made on a set of clinical, biological and radiological arguments with good improvement after medical treatment.