title: Splenic infarction. A rare presentation of anaplastic pancreatic carcinoma and a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare variant of ductal adenocarcinoma. The histogenesis and biologic behavior of these tumors are still controversial. They occur in elderly men and are associated with a very poor prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of advanced anaplastic carcinoma in a 41-year-old man who presented with splenic infarction. He had a prolonged survival of 16 months from diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Splenic infarction is a most unusual acute presentation of pancreatic carcinoma, which may require emergency tumor resection and splenectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Manzhi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ju-Yaw
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: See
authors.forename: Wajiha
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sufyan
authors.forename: Ravishankar K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Diddapur
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D035583:Rare Diseases; D013159:Splenic Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery