Lemmel’s Syndrome – A Case Series

Abstract

Periampullary diverticula (PAD) are the most common type of duodenal diverticula. They are the extraluminal mucosal outpouchings of the duodenum within 2.5 cm of the major duodenal papilla. PAD are usually asymptomatic, but they can cause difficult cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Very rarely, they can also cause obstructive jaundice in the absence of other common causes of biliary obstruction, which is called Lemmel’s syndrome. Because it is a very rare entity, its incidence is largely unknown and it was speculated that fewer than 10% of periampullary diverticula have this type of presentation. In this study, we report six cases of Lemmel’s syndrome diagnosed and treated successfully at our tertiary care center.