PSEUDOMELANOSIS DUODENI IN AN ADOLESCENT MALE - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Pseudomelanosis duodeni is rarely seen in children. It manifests endos copically as peppery speckles in the duodenal mucosa. This pigment cor responds principally to accumulation of ferrous sulfide in macrophages within the lamina propria. We report the case of a 16-year-old bq wit h ectodermal dysplasia who underwent renal transplantation for vesicou reteral reflux and later developed epigastric pain. Endoscopic and pat hologic findings in the duodenal mucosa were typical of pseudo melanos is duodeni. A review of the literature reveals shared clinical feature s among reported adult and pediatric cases, including chronic renal fa ilure, use of antihypertensive medication and oral iron supplementatio n, and/or presence of gastric hemorrhage.