Metastatic tumors of the pancreas

Yoon, Won Jae; Park, Joo Kyung; Lee, Sang Hyub; Lee, Jun Kyu; Ryu, Ji Kon; Kim, Yong Tae; Yoon, Yong Bum; Jang, Jin Young; Kim, Sun Whe; Kim, Woo Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Metastases to the pancreas are uncommon, and are usually a part of widespread disease. However, isolated metastatic lesions can be resected, which can lead to prolonged survival of the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of metastatic tumors of the pancreas in a Korean poulation.
METHODS
We evaluated clinical features and treatment results in patients with a pathological confirmation of metastasis to the pancreas from January 1997 to June 2005.
RESULTS
Twenty-five patients were included in the study. Nineteen patients were male. The mean age at the diagnosis of the metastasis was 58.2 years. Renal cell carcinoma was the most frequent primary malignancy (n=8), followed by gastric carcinoma (n=5), colorectal carcinoma (n=2), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=1), lymphoma (n=1), thymic carcinoid (n=1), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n=1), liposarcoma (n=1), cholangiocarcinoma (n=1), osteosarcoma (n=1), small cell lung cancer (n=1), and non-small cell lung cancer (n=1). Eleven patients were asymptomatic upon diagnosis. The mean interval between the primary diagnosis and diagnosis of the metastases was 4.9 years. Fourteen patients underwent surgery with or without chemotherapy, five patients received chemotherapy, one patient received radiation therapy, and five received palliative care. The mean survival after the diagnosis of metastasis was 44.3 months. Renal cell carcinoma as the primary tumor, asymptomatic upon diagnosis of the metastasis, the interval between primary diagnosis and diagnosis of the metastases of more than 43 months, and surgery with or without chemotherapy were associated with a prolonged survival.
CONCLUSIONS
Metastasis to the pancreas can occur after a prolonged period from an initial diagnosis. In selected patients (e.g., renal cell carcinoma), aggressive treatment can prolong survival.