Metastasis to the Pancreas from Breast Cancer: Difficulties in Diagnosis and Controversies in Treatment.
BACKGROUND: Metastasis to the pancreas originating from malignant tumours is a rare event and, in the literature, we have found only 11 reported cases of solitary pancreatic metastases originating from breast cancer. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 51-year-old woman with primary breast cancer who developed obstructive jaundice and epigastric pain after 2 years without any symptoms. The pancreatic mass revealed by computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was not recognised as a metastasis from breast cancer and the patient underwent cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss all aspects of the case management, stressing the importance of a careful evaluation of the clinical history and the primary cancer features and the usefulness of a multi-disciplinary approach. These aspects are of main importance for a correct diagnostic process and an appropriate therapeutic choice when a pancreatic lesion develops in a patient with prior neoplasm.
Department of Surgery 'Pietro Valdoni', University of Rome 'Sapienza', Italy.
Stefano Amore
SA
Bonapasta
Matteo
M
Gregori
Rosina
R
Lanza
Elena
E
Sangiorgi
Antonello
A
Menghi
Massimo
M
Scarpini
Mauro
M
Modesti