Isolated resectable pancreatic metastasis 10 years post gastrectomy

Solitary pancreatic metastasis of gastric cancer with synchronous pancreatic ductal carcinoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

There have been a few reports on solitary pancreatic metastases of gastric cancer. We present a case of solitary pancreatic metastasis of gastric cancer with synchronous primary pancreatic ductal carcinoma.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

An 86-year-old man who had undergone total gastrectomy two and half years prior presented with a poorly enhanced tumor in the pancreatic body. We diagnosed pancreatic ductal carcinoma and performed distal pancreatosplenectomy. Histopathologically, the tumor comprised poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells mixed with moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma cells that were compatible with metastasis of gastric cancer. There was also invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas. The postoperative course was uneventful. Six months after surgery, computed tomography revealed peritoneal dissemination, and he died of recurrence 10 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatic metastasis of gastric cancer with synchronous primary pancreatic cancer can occur and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Pancreatic metastasis from gastric carcinoma: a case report

Background

The pancreas is a rare but occasionally favored target for metastasis. Metastatic lesions in the pancreas have been described for various primary cancers, such as carcinomas of the lung, the breast, renal cell carcinoma and sarcomas.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 60-year old female with a mass in the pancreatic head four years after partial gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a pancreatoduodenectomy. Pathological examination revealed metastases of the primary gastric carcinoma within the pancreatic head and in regional lymph nodes.

Conclusions

Pancreatic tumors in patients with a history of non-pancreatic malignancy should always be considered to be a putative metastatic lesion at an unusual site. If the pancreas can be identified as the only site of spread, radical resection may prolong survival.