Solitary pancreatic metastasis from a primary colonic tumor detected by PET scan: report of a case

Isolated Pancreatic Metastasis From Squamous Cell Lung Cancer Mimicking Primary Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma on FDG PET/CT

Isolated pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer is rare. We present a case of isolated pancreatic metastasis from squamous cell lung cancer. The pancreatic tumor showed hypovascularity on enhanced MRI and intense FDG uptake on FDG PET/CT mimicking primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This case indicates pancreatic metastasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with a history of extrapancreatic cancer and hypermetabolic pancreatic lesion.

Synchronous distal pancreatic metastatic lesion arising from colonic adenocarcinoma: case report and literature review

Solitary metastatic pancreatic lesions comprise 0.5% to 3% of all pancreas neoplasms, most commonly arising from primary tumors of the kidney, lung, or colon. Synchronous metastatic pancreatic lesions are exceptionally rare. Only 25 cases of isolated colorectal pancreatic metastasis amenable to resection have been reported, 11 of those in the distal pancreas. To our knowledge we report the first case of a primary colonic malignancy with a synchronous distal pancreatic metastatic lesion treated with resection.

Lymph node metastasis from colon carcinoma at 11 years after the initial operation managed by lymph node resection and chemoradiation: A case report and a review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Lymph node metastasis from colorectal cancer after a disease-free interval (DFI) of >5years is extremely rare, and occurs in <0.6% cases.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 60-year-old man underwent low anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer. The lesion was an adenocarcinoma with no lymph node metastasis of Stage II. At 9years after the colectomy, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was treated with radiation and hormonal therapies; at 11years, he exhibited suddenly elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT revealed a 2.0-cm para-aortic lymph nodes swelling invading the small intestine. These lymph nodes and the affected segment of the small intestine were resected, and histopathology of the resected specimen confirmed a metastatic tumor. The patient was administered radiation therapy after 22 cycles of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and leucovorin. He however presented with a residual lesion in the para-aortic lymph node, but currently, he has been symptom free for 4years.

DISCUSSION

A review of the literature indicates that the median survival of all previously reported patients is 12months, and that colon cancer with a long DFI might be a slow growing. One of these patients and our patient both had received radiation and/or hormonal therapy for another cancer, which probably impaired their immune systems, thus resulting in metastatic tumors.

CONCLUSION

We report a case of lymph node metastasis after a DFI of >5years and review relevant literature to assess the significance and possible reasons for delayed colorectal cancer metastases.

Isolated pancreatic metastasis from rectal cancer: a case report and review of literature

Isolated pancreatic metastases from a non-pancreatic primary malignancy are very rare. Studies have shown that resection of metastases is of proven benefit in some types of tumors. We report a case of 76-year-old Taiwanese woman with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and abdominoperineal resection 2 years ago presenting with an asymptomatic mass at the pancreatic tail on a routine follow up abdominal computed tomography scan. The patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy under the preoperative impression of a primary pancreatic malignancy. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis from rectal adenocarcinoma. Postoperative chemotherapy in the form of oral capecitabine was given. The patient is alive and disease free 12 months after the surgery. In a patient presenting with a pancreatic mass with history of a non-pancreatic malignancy, a differential diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis should be considered. Surgical resection of a solitary pancreatic mass is justified not only to get the definitive diagnosis but also to improve the survival.

Metastasis to the pancreas from colorectal cancer: is there a place for pancreatic resection?

PURPOSE

Pancreatic metastases from colorectal cancer are very rare, and the possible benefit of surgical treatment is not clearly defined. This study was designed to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer to the pancreas.

METHODS

Nine patients underwent pancreatic resection for metastatic colorectal cancer between January 1980 and December 2006. The primary cancers were colon (n = 7) and rectal carcinoma (n = 2). The median interval between primary treatment and detection of pancreatic metastases was 32.5 months. In three cases pancreatic metastases were synchronous with the primary tumor.

RESULTS

Five patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, and four underwent distal pancreatectomy. A left lateral liver section and three colon resections were simultaneously performed in four patients. There was no postoperative mortality, and only two patients experienced complications. Survival averaged 19.8 (median, 17.0; range, 5-30) months: seven patients died of metastatic disease, one for unrelated disease after five months, and one is alive with liver metastases 30 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection can be performed safely in patients with isolated pancreatic metastases from colorectal cancer and in selected patients with associated extrapancreatic disease. Although long-term survival is rare, surgery should be included, whenever possible, in the multimodality approach to this disease.

[Distal pancreatectomy for rectal metastatic adenocarcinoma 6 years after proctectomy]

We report the case of a 77 year old man treated with a distal pancreatectomy for rectal metastatic cancer. Diagnosis was made based on increased CEA levels following excision of the rectal tumor discovered during treatment follow up of liver and pulmonary metastases. Eight months after pancreatectomy the patient was asymptomatic and CEA levels were normal. Pancreatic resection for metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas may be considered in selected patients without extrapancreatic disease. Long-term survival or good palliation may be achieved after surgery.

Single pancreatic metastasis from a previously resected carcinoma of the cecum: a case report

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of an isolated pancreatic metastasis from a primary cecum carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Carcinoma of the colon and rectum commonly metastasizes to distant sites such as liver, lung, bone, brain, and ovaries. Only a few cases of pancreatic metastasis from a primary colonic carcinoma had been reported. Metastasic lesions to the pancreas are found only in 3% to 12% of autopsies from advanced malignancies. Primary tumors that commonly metastasize to the pancreas are lung and kidney. Most of the patients with metastatic lesions to pancreas also had extrapancreatic metastatic disease.

CASE

We report a case of a 86-year-old woman with a single pancreatic metastasis from a primary cecum carcinoma resected 8 months before.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of an isolated metastasis to the pancreatic body from a primary cecum adenocarcinoma is extremely rare.

Pancreatic resection for metastatic tumors to the pancreas

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The incidence of metastases to the pancreas is very low. The benefit of resection of pancreatic metastasis is poorly defined. In this review we evaluated the outcome of patients undergoing pancreatic resection for metastatic tumors to the pancreas.

METHODS

Eight patients underwent pancreatic resection for metastatic tumor from December 1980 to June 2001. The primary cancer was colon carcinoma (n = 4), renal cell cancer (n = 2), duodenal leiomyosarcoma (n = 1), and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 1). The median interval between primary treatment and detection of pancreatic metastases was 36 months. In two cases pancreatic metastases were synchronous with the primary tumor.

RESULTS

Four patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, two distal pancreatectomy, one total pancreatectomy, and one median pancreatectomy. Associated resection of extrapancreatic lesions was performed in four patients, including two left hepatectomy and two left colectomy. There was no postoperative mortality, but two patients had a pancreatic and a biliary fistula, respectively. Survival averaged 23 months (range 14-42 months): four patients died for metastatic disease from 14 to 42 months after operation, while four patients are alive and well 14 to 31 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic resection for metastatic disease to the pancreas should be considered even in selected patients with limited extrapancreatic disease. Long-term survival or good palliation may be achieved.