ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a relative rare tumor, accounting for approximately 3% of adult malignancies. Renal cell carcinoma has a high metastatic potential and is renowned for its ability to spread to almost any organ of the body. Pancreas is a rare site for metastasis from other primary cancers. Moreover, pancreatic metastasis is difficult to differentiate and may be misdiagnosed as a primary pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to review our cases of renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized to the pancreas after radical nephrectomy. METHODS: We did a retrospective review of the records of 4 patients with pathologically confirmed RCC that had metastasized to the pancreas after radical nephrectomy. RESULTS: Our group of 4 patients consisted of 2 men and 2 women. Their average age was 58.7 years (+/- 10.51 years). The locations within the pancreas were the head, in 2 (50.0%) and the body/tail in 2 (50.0%) patients. The pancreatic metastases were treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy in 2 patients, and by distal pancreatectomy in 2 patients. Median survival duration was 109.0 (+/- 67.3 months) "Median" is associated with an interquartile range (25% to 75%). The number 67.3 appears to be a standard deviation which is associated with the "mean". CONCLUSIONS: RCC is an unpredictable tumor that may result in a late metastasis even from an early stage. Aggressive surgical management of pancreatic lesions offers a chance of long-term survival.