Hepatic artery aneurysm following pancreatitis diagnosed by ultrasound.

Aneurysms of the hepatic artery are rare. If untreated, aneurysms of the extra-hepatic portion of the artery frequently rupture and this is nearly always fatal. Although the diagnosis may be made clinically or radiographically some cases of ruptured aneurysm are only discovered post mortem. We describe a case in which an hepatic artery aneurysm complicating pancreatitis was diagnosed by real-time and Doppler ultrasound. A 70-year-old woman presented with acute onset of epigastric pain. Physical examination revealed epigastric tenderness with absent bowel sounds. A serum amylase of 8000 + IU (normal ≤ 300 IU) confirmed a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and the patient received supportive therapy.