Pancreatic resection for metastatic tumors to the pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Sperti
Cosimo
C
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Pasquali
Claudio
C
Liessi
Guido
G
Pinciroli
Luca
L
Decet
Giandomenico
G
Pedrazzoli
Sergio
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000401:mortality; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis