Surgical Resection of Pancreatic Cancer Recurring as a Solitary Lung Nodule

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-2023

Publication Title

American Journal of Gastroenterology

Abstract

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA. Surgery is potentially curative, but only 15-20% of patients have resectable disease at the time of initial presentation. Distant metastases usually preclude resection. We present a patient with a history of pancreatic adenocarcinoma who, 5 years later, was found to have biopsy-confirmed isolated pulmonary metastasis treated with surgical resection. Case Description/Methods: A 79-year-old asymptomatic male with a history of tobacco use presented for his annual exam. Five years prior, he was diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma for which he underwent extended distal pancreatectomy followed by chemotherapy (gemcitabine and capecitabine) and radiation therapy. Further testing revealed BRCA1 gene mutation. At that time, his CT scan also showed an incidental stable 4 mm right middle lobe nodule that was monitored annually. PET scans were negative. His present CT scan demonstrated a rapid increase in nodule size to 8.7 mm, which raised suspicion for malignancy (Figure 1A). PET scan showed an FDG-avid focus in the region of aforementioned nodule (Figure 1B). He subsequently underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic right middle lobe lobectomy. Histopathology confirmed metastatic pancreatic cancer with lymph nodes negative for metastases. He was subsequently started on the PARP-inhibitor Olaparib. He continues to do well with no further recurrence. Discussion: Liver, peritoneum and lymph nodes are the common sites of metastases in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Compared to other sites, pulmonary metastases have been shown to have a better prognosis. There are no clear post-treatment surveillance guidelines and the majority of recurrences are not eligible for curative therapy. Although chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for recurrent pancreatic cancer, rare patients, such as the 1 presented here with isolated pulmonary metastasis, could benefit from surgical resection.

Volume

118

Issue

10S

First Page

S1562

Comments

American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting, October 20-25, 2023, Vancouver, Canada

DOI

10.14309/01.ajg.0000958320.79811.80

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