Pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the tail-Unveiling a rare presentation with venous thrombosis: A case report and literature review

Pancreatic cancer is a silent and lethal adversary that often conceals its presence until advanced stages. This report elucidates a distinctive case of a 46-year-old patient with pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma presenting with venous thrombosis, a rare manifestation. The patient's symptoms included severe left leg pain, swelling, and redness, accompanied by weight loss and decreased appetite. Laboratory findings indicated a prothrombotic state, whereas imaging revealed a substantial mass on the tail of the pancreas with hepatic metastasis. Elevated cancer antigen 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen supported the diagnosis which was confirmed by a liver biopsy. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by pancreatic cancer, particularly in the tail, emphasizing the need for early detection. The intricate interplay between metastasis and thrombosis complicates the clinical landscape, requiring a comprehensive approach to management.

Double contrast-enhanced ultrasound improves the detection and localization of occult lesions in the pancreatic tail: a initial experience report

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to review our initial experience of Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCEUS) in the preoperative detection of pancreatic tail occult tumors.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients were recruited to undergo DCEUS of the pancreas suspected by occult lesions of pancreatic with MRI or clinical evidence. The radiologists assessed the images (conventional US, DCEUS, and MRI) for enhancement phases, tumor presence, location, enhancement characteristics, and tumor conspicuity. The differences in the onset times of the phases between DCEUS and MRI were noted. Tumor conspicuity was graded on a four-point scale for conspicuity comparison among three imaging modalities.

RESULTS

Pancreatic tail tumors were missed on conventional transabdominal US in 11 of 35 patients. DCEUS revealed 12 lesions of 35 patients. Pancreatic tail tumors were identified on MRI in 10 of 35 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of DCEUS for depicting occult lesions of ≤ 2.2 cm were 92% and 95%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of conventional US were 67% and 66%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 91% and 88%, respectively. The conspicuity ratings of the three phases did not significantly differ between the DCEUS and MRI groups (P > 0.05). The DCEUS phases started much earlier than the corresponding MRI phases.

CONCLUSION

DCEUS is a promising technique in the detection of occult pancreatic tail tumors and is possibly superior to dynamic enhanced MRI in the case of some peripheral lesions.