1/23. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma presenting as sinistral portal hypertension: an unusual presentation of pancreatic cancer.A rare syndrome, sinistral (left-sided) portal hypertension resulting from splenic vein thrombosis secondary to pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the tail is presented here. Pancreatic cancer is notorious for presenting with vague and nonspecific symptoms, including but not exclusively weight loss, abdominal pain, and anorexia with or without jaundice. However, physicians should be aware that in the presence of splenic vein thrombosis, this finding alone puts pancreatic cancer high on the differential diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/23. Pancreatic metastasis of a pleuropulmonary blastoma in an adult.Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare dysontogenetic tumor that usually develops in the first decade of life and has been recognized as a distinct clinico-pathological entity different from the ordinary pulmonary blastoma of adulthood. Since the tumor grows aggressively and tends to metastasize early, physicians have to be aware of late onset of symptoms and uncommon manifestations. We report a case of PPB in a young adult and its recurrence in the pancreas after primary surgical treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy. Keeping in mind the moderate prognosis of PPB in children, accurate assessment and treatment of PPB require a team approach of oncology, radiology and surgery to establish new therapeutic guidelines in the future.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/23. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of an intra-abdominal inflammatory mass secondary to a penetrating duodenal ulcer mimicking neoplasm.Peptic ulcers complicated by penetration into the surrounding tissue and presenting as an intra-abdominal mass simulating a malignancy are uncommon. We report on a case of a 56-yr-old physician with a 40-yr history of peptic disease. Due to recent and transitory right flank pain, an ultrasound then a computed tomography scan demonstrated a 4-cm retropancreatic mass. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the mass showed an acute and chronic inflammatory exudate. After a course of medical treatment for peptic ulcer disease and 5 mo after the biopsy, the mass remarkably decreased in size. In view of the clinical and FNAB findings, the lesion likely developed as a result of penetration of the duodenal ulcer into the retropancreatic space. awareness of this uncommon complication of peptic gastroduodenal ulcer disease is helpful in the diagnosis of this benign lesion. A failure in making a firm diagnosis by considering the aspirate material as nonrepresentative may lead to an unnecessary repeat biopsy or an invasive procedure.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/23. carcinoembryonic antigen: clinical and historical aspects.To further define and determine the usefulness of CEA, 1100 CEA determinations have been made over the past two years at The ohio State University hospitals on patients with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Correlation of CEA titers with history and clinical course has yielded interesting results not only in cancers of entodermally derived tissues, for which CEA has become an established adjunct in management, but also in certain other neoplasms and inflammatory states. The current total of 225 preoperative CEA determinations in colorectal carcinomas shows an 81% incidence of elevation, with postoperative titers remaining elevated in patients having only palliative surgery but falling to the negative zone after curative procedures. An excellent correlation exists between CEA levels and grade of tumor (more poorly differentiated tumors showing lower titers). Left-side colon lesions show significantly higher titers than right-side lesions. CEA values have been shown to be elevated in 90% of pancreatic carcinomas studied, in 60% of metastatic breast cancers, and in 35% of other tumors (ovary, head and neck, bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers). CEA levels in 35 ulcerative colitis patients show elevation during exacerbations (51%). During remissions titers fall toward normal, although in 31% still remaining greater than 2.5 ng/ml. In the six colectomies performed, CEA levels all fell into the negative zone postoperatively. Forty percent of adenomatous polyps showed elevated CEA titers (range 2.5-10.0) that dropped following polypectomy to the negative zone. Preoperative and postoperative CEA determinations are important in assessing the effectiveness of surgery. Serial CEA determinations are important in the follow-up period and in evaluation of the other modes of therapy (e.g., chemotherapy). These determinations of tumor antigenicity give the physician added prognostic insight into the behavior of the tumor growth. Rectal examination with guaiac determinations, sigmoidoscopy, cytology, barium enema, and a good clinical evaluation remain the primary tools for detecting colorectal disease. However, in the high-risk patient suspicious of developing cancer, CEA determinations as well as colonoscopy are now being used increasingly and provide additional highly valuable tools in the physician's armamentarium.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/23. A case of triple synchronous cancers occurring in the gallbladder, common bile duct, and pancreas.We report a 74-year-old man with triple synchronous cancers occurring in the gallbladder, common bile duct, and pancreas. The patient had consulted a nearby physician because of epigastralgia and icterus. On September 30, 1997, the patient was admitted to our department for further evaluation and treatment. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed dilatation of the common bile duct, cystic duct, and intrahepatic bile duct, and swelling of the gallbladder. On CT, the wall of the distal common bile duct was thick and a low-density mass was detected on the left side. cholangiography, performed via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD), revealed stenosis of the distal common bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) showed marked dilatation of the main pancreatic duct. On October 17, 1997, pancreatoduodenectomy was performed under the diagnosis of carcinoma of common bile duct and pancreas. Histopathological examination revealed poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma of the common bile duct, well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. These three tumors were histopathologically different. Moreover, p53-positive nuclei were recognized only in the pancreas tumor. These findings suggested that the oncogenic mechanisms of multiple synchronous cancers were not the result of only abnormal dna reparative mechanisms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/23. pancreatic pseudocyst observed on F-18 FDG PET imaging.A 72-year-old man with right lower lobe squamous cell carcinoma of the lung-status, post resection-and prostate carcinoma was referred for restaging with whole-body PET using F-18 FDG. PET images, in addition to the presence of moderate hypermetabolic activity seen in the left lower paratracheal and bilateral hilar regions, revealed a large hypometabolic space-occupying lesion in the abdomen. The appearance of this lesion was highly suggestive of a pancreatic pseudocyst. Further review of a CT scan performed 3 years ago confirmed the presence of a pancreatic pseudocyst. However, this information was not available to the nuclear medicine physician at the time of the PET examination.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/23. Intraductal serrated adenoma of the pancreas. A case report.Case report: A 48-year-old male with known hypothyreosis consulted his physician for symptoms compatible with TIA (transient ischemic attacks). Computer tomography (CT) in December 2001 revealed an irregular, lobulated mass in the processus uncinatus of the pancreas head. A CT examination 14 months later revealed status quo. In July 2004, a new CT showed an increase in size of the expansive pancreatic mass. The patient was operated on in August 2004 with a preliminary diagnosis of incidentaloma of the pancreas. The pathological examination showed a 4 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm large tumour. histology revealed an intraductal serrated adenoma. The epithelial fronds had sawtooth-like configurations. An area with early invasive carcinoma was found. The tumour had progressed slowly during the 2.7 years of surveillance. Serrated neoplasia in the duodenum may result in similar cases in the future.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/23. Pancreatic and gastric metastases of leiomyosarcoma arising in the left leg.Pancreatic or gastric metastases from other primary malignancies are rare, especially from leiomyosarcoma. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma in the left lower leg with metastases to the pancreas and stomach. A 61-year-old man had liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis c virus infection and was followed up by his primary physician. Two years before presentation at our hospital, he had undergone surgical resection of leiomyosarcoma in the left lower leg and systemic chemotherapy for multiple metastatic tumors in the lung. On admission, endoscopic examination and computed tomography were performed for a routine checkup to exclude esophageal varices and liver tumor. Although the patient had no specific symptoms, multiple gastric and pancreatic metastases were identified by endoscopy and computed tomography, respectively. In general, metastases to the pancreas and stomach are rare. We discuss the clinical and diagnostic findings of pancreatic and gastric metastases by reviewing previously reported cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/23. Gemcitabine-related radiation recall in a patient with pancreatic cancer.radiation recall refers to inflammatory reactions triggered by chemotherapeutic agents and develops cutaneously in the previously irradiated areas. Such agents include anthracyclines, taxanes and capecitabine. radiation recall related to gemcitabine has been reported in lung and breast cancer. Similar phenomenon associated with gemcitabine, the only FDA-approved drug for pancreatic cancer, is rarely reported. We report a patient with inoperable pancreatic cancer who developed gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to radiation-recall related to gemcitabine and review literature. A 57-year-old white male with unresectable pancreatic cancer received capecitabine in combination with radiation therapy followed by capecitabine alone given over approximately a 3-month time period. Computed tomography re-evaluation demonstrated a new liver lesion. The patient was then treated with gemcitabine and irinotecan. On day 15 of cycle 1, he reported progressive worsening of weakness and fatigue, and melena. physical examination revealed hypotension (84/47 mmHg) and heme-positive stool on rectal examination. He denied aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Chemotherapy was held. hematocrit was 20% (previously 33%). He was transfused with 3 units of packed red blood cells. An esophago-gastro-duodenal examination was performed which showed antritis and duodenitis consistent with radiation therapy. A single site of oozing was injected with epinephrine. The diffuse gastritis was aggressively treated with proton pump inhibitors. The patient's hematocrit eventually stabilized and was 30% at discharge. Gemcitabine was not resumed. radiation recall from gemcitabine is rare, but can potentially arise in any site that has been previously irradiated. Gemcitabine should be added to the list of drugs known to cause radiation recall. Treating physicians must be aware of this potential toxicity from gemcitabine either given concomitantly or followed by radiation. We suggest discontinuing gemcitabine if radiation recall is observed. Further studies are warranted into the pathogenesis of this unique phenomenon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/23. Single case of renal cell carcinoma and endocrine pancreatic head cancer occurring with von hippel-lindau disease.Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant genetic disease in which various neoplastic lesions occur in multiple organs. Reported here is a case of VHL disease with concurrent renal cell carcinoma and endocrine pancreatic cancer. The patient was a 43-year old woman. On this occasion, the patient had sought treatment from her local physician, complaining chiefly of yellowing of the skin and bulbar conjunctiva. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scans revealed a mass in the right kidney and a mass in the pancreatic head. Peripheral blood genetic analysis revealed an Arg/stop heteroconjugative mutation in codon 113 in exon 1 of the VHL gene on the short arm of chromosome 3 (p25-26). After various tests were performed, the patient was diagnosed with right renal cell carcinoma, malignant tumor of the pancreatic head, and multiple pancreatic cysts accompanying von hippel-lindau disease. Right nephrectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy were performed. Based on the histopathological results, the patient was diagnosed with right renal cell carcinoma and highly differentiated endocrine pancreatic cancer. Immunohistologically, a large number of atypical cells were found to be positive for both anti-chromogranin and anti-synaptophysin antibodies in the endocrine tumor. Immunostaining for each type of gut hormone was also performed, but all results were negative. Based on the above findings, nonfunctioning, highly differentiating endocrine cancer was diagnosed. This is the first confirmed case of renal cell carcinoma and endocrine pancreatic cancer occurring concurrently with VHL. This is an important case, so it is presented here along with a short discussion of the literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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