Pancreas sparing resection for giant hamartoma of Brunner's glands.

Background: Benign proliferative changes of the Brunner's glands account for about 10% of neoplasias of the duodenal bulb.

Methods: The authors present a case of giant hamartoma of Brunner's glands. The patient presented clinically with vague epigastric discomfort. A pancreas-sparing duodenal resection was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery and is well at a one year follow-up. The diagnosis was established on histopathology.

Conclusions: Duodenal hamartomas are rare and may become very large, mandating surgical removal. A pancreas-sparing duodenal resection is one of the modalities of treating such lesions.