Cystic artery hemorrhage: a complication of penetrating duodenal ulcer.

Erosion of the cystic artery by the direct penetration of a duodenal ulcer is a rare complication of peptic ulcer disease. Two patients with this complication are reported, one of whom had undergone cholecystectomy. Emergency angiography demonstrated extravasation from the cystic artery directly into the lumen of the duodenum. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the angiographic findings are discussed.