Radiological imaging change in a malignant bowel obstruction patient treated with octreotide.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a complication in advanced cancer patients with abdominal and pelvic malignancy. Recent research has established the efficacy of octreotide for MBO-related symptom relief. The mechanism that octreotide increases water absorption in case of MBO has not been demonstrated except for experimental animal and normal human model. CASE REPORT: We present a 60-year-old man with pancreatic cancer and MBO treated with octreotide. Radiological imaging showed the disappearance of large-volume fluid retention in the small intestine with alleviating vomiting within 2 days. This radiological change might result from the effect of octreotide increasing water absorption in intestine tract.