Lemmel's syndrome as a rare cause of obstructive jaundice

Obstructive jaundice is a frequent symptom most frequently resulting from choledocolithiasis or pancreatico-biliary and periampullary tumors. If duodenal diverticula are frequently asymptomatic, they can occasionally present with obstructive jaundice in the absence of lithiasis or another obstructing lesion such as a tumor in a presentation called Lemmel's syndrome. We herein present a 70-year-old male with obstructive jaundice secondary to a periampullary duodenal diverticulum associated with hepatic abscess. Endoscopic sphincterotomy associated with percutaneous abscess drainage released patient from all symptoms. Lenrimel's syndrome as a rare cause of obstructive jaundice should be known in order to avoid mismanagement and therapeutic delay. (c) 2012 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.