A Case of Pancreatic Metastasis of Rectal Cancer after Three Times Resection of Recurrence

Yasuo Yoneyama, Osamu Kainuma, Tetsushi Taniguchi, Kohichi Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Watanabe and Tsuyoshi Hara

Department of Surgery, Shimizu Kosei Hospital

A 67-year-old woman underwent a lower anterior resection for rectal cancer in 1993 and subsequently received two hepatectomies and a partial lobectomy for metastases. In 2000, a computed tomography examination showed the dilatation of the main pancreatic duct and a 2 cm mass with enhanced heterogeneity in the pancreas head. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed stenosis of the main pancreatic duct in the head of the pancreas. A pancreatoduodenectomy was performed under a diagnosis of pancreatic metastasis of rectal cancer, based on a biopsy of the tumor. The microscopic appearance showed a well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, similar to the primary tumor. Pancreatic metastasis of colorectal cancer is very rare. Some reported cases have survived for long periods of time, despite several operations for metastases in other organ. If radical operation is an option, surgical treatment is recommended.

Key words
pancreatic metastasis, rectal cancer

Reprint requests
Osamu Kainuma Dept. of Surgery, Shimizu Kousei Hospital 578-1 Ihara, Shimizu, 424-0114 JAPAN

Accepted
October 31, 2001

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