title: Distribution of liver metastases based on the site of primary pancreatic carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the different location of pancreatic adenocarcinoma affects the lobar distribution of metastases to the liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  From all patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations for staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the last 4 years we selected 80 patients (42 men, 38 women; mean age, 60.56 years) with liver metastases and a pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the head (group A, 40 patients; diameter, 32.41 ± 2.28 mm) or body-tail (group B, 40 patients; diameter, 52.21 ± 2.8 mm). We analysed tumour site, diameter, vascular invasion and number of metastases in each lobe of the liver. The total number of metastases was compared between the two groups with an unpaired t-test, while Fisher's test was used to compare the number of metastases within the two lobes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, the number of liver metastases was higher in group B than in group A. The ratio of metastases in the right-to-left hemi-liver was 7.4:1 for group A compared with 3.3:1 for group B (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the number of liver metastases is higher in the right lobe than in the left lobe in both groups, there is a significant difference in the ratio of metastases between the right and the left hemi-liver. This supports the existence of a streamline phenomenon and a selective lobar distribution of metastases within the liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Pancreatic adenocarcinoma presents with liver metastases in 40% of cases • The presence of liver metastases disqualifies the patient from curative surgery • The distribution of metastases within the liver depends on the site of pancreatic adenocarcinoma • The distribution of liver metastases is due to the streamline phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Policlinico GB Rossi, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, P. le LA Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy. mchiara.ambrosetti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ambrosetti
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Policlinico GB Rossi, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, P. le LA Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Radiologia, Policlinico GB Rossi, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, P. le LA Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto Pozzi
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mucelli
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Liver; Multidetector computed tomography; Neoplasm metastases; Pancreas