Solitary metastatic tumors to the pancreas: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Secondary pancreatic tumors should be considered in those patients who present with a solitary pancreatic mass and who have had a previous nonpancreatic malignancy. The most common primary tumor origin of solitary pancreatic metastases is renal cell carcinoma, but many other primary sites have been reported. Radiological studies are useful for determining size and resectability, but a biopsy for tissue confirmation is required to differentiate primary and secondary pancreatic tumors. Survival data from patients who had solitary metastasis to other organ sites suggest that an aggressive surgical approach may improve survival. Characteristics of the primary tumor including tumor grade and histology may also affect prognosis. Prospective studies evaluating survival after surgical therapy have not been undertaken.