title: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare tumor with poor prognosis and is found in the literature only as case reports. The optimal management course remains poorly defined. We present a case of primary basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas metastatic to the liver, which was treated with surgery and systemic chemotherapy. Our patient survived for 15 months: the longest survival reported in the literature to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 70-year-old Caucasian man presented to hospital with a three-month history of weight loss, pruritus and icterus. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of an operable mass lesion in the head of the pancreas. Following a pancreaticoduodenectomy, histology results led us to make a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Postoperative restaging showed multiple metastases in the liver. He underwent palliative systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil achieving partial response and an excellent quality of life. He then went on to start second-line chemotherapy, but unfortunately died of sepsis soon thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report emphasizes that achievement of a worthwhile objective and symptomatic palliative response is possible using platinum-based chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Sarn Lane, Denbighshire, LL18 5UJ, UK. ravi.kodavatiganti@wales.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodavatiganti
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashmi
authors.forename: Simon W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Gollins