title: Refining indications for contemporary surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the pancreas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pancreas is a rare location for metastatic disease, with only 2-11% of all pancreatic tumours being of non-primary origin. It is also uncommon for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to metastasize to the pancreas (1-3% of cases) and, when it does, it typically occurs substantially after index nephrectomy. It is not known whether all pancreatic metastases need be resected because today's chemo- and biological therapies are increasingly effective in controlling advanced disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with a variety of symptoms are discussed. Four patients presented with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, ranging from occult to life-threatening in severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four patients with gastrointestinal bleeding had RCC metastases that had eroded into the duodenum and were successfully controlled by palliative pancreaticoduodenectomy or completion pancreatectomy. The other two patients were treated using different chemotherapeutic or biological agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal cell carcinoma metastases to the pancreas typically occur long after index nephrectomy. Although clinical presentation is variable, palliative resection should be reserved for those who develop complications, such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and, in other series, obstructive jaundice. Routine debulking resections do not appear to be indicated because current biological therapies effectively and reliably control disease over long periods.
authors: Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors: Aram N
authors: AN
authors: Demirjian
authors: Charles M
authors: CM
authors: Vollmer
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: McDermott
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Mullen
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Atkins
authors: Mark P
authors: MP
authors: Callery