title: Pancreatic carcinoma with brain metastases: case report and literature review.
abstract: The case of a patient developing multiple brain metastases from carcinoma of the exocrine pancreas has been described. A 56-year-old man with stage IV pancreatic cancer attained a clinical and radiographic response while receiving the G-FLIP chemotherapy regimen (biweekly gemcitabine, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and cisplatin). After 4 months of therapy, he developed gait imbalance and weakness in the right hand. An MRI of the brain showed multiple 1-2 mm enhancing nodules in the cerebral hemispheres and pons. A subsequent biopsy confirmed that these were pancreatic carcinoma metastases. The patient experienced a rapid deterioration in his neurological status and died 3 days after brain biopsy. Previously reported cases of brain metastases from pancreatic cancer are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 1000 Tenth Avenue, Suite 11 G, New York, NY 10019, USA.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: El Kamar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jindal
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Grossbard
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Mizrachi
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kozuch
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*