title: An unusual neoplasm of the pancreas: Pancreatic metastasis of a Merkel cell carcinoma. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Isolated pancreatic metastases are rare. The differential diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms can be difficult, especially it can be troublesome to obtain tissue diagnosis. However, pancreatic lesions in patients with a history of a malignancy must be considered to be metastases. We present a case of a patient with a history of a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in the neck. Twelve months after this diagnosis a follow-up CT shows a large isolated tumor in the head of the pancreas. Histological and immunohistochemical studies of specimen obtained through ultrasound-guided transabdominal biopsy, show similar characteristics as the primary MCC. To our knowledge twelve cases of a pancreatic metastasis of a MCC have been reported in English literature. A review of the literature was performed.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Cock
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remery
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vuyst
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lecluyse