Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells reported in an asymptomatic patient: a rare case and literature review

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells (UC-OGC) is a rare and poorly described pancreatic malignancy. It is comprised of mononuclear, pleomorphic, and undifferentiated cells as well as osteoclast-like giant cells (OGC's). It constitutes less than 1% of pancreatic non-endocrine neoplasia and is twice as likely to occur in females as in males. Its histopathologic properties remain poorly understood. It is suspected that UC-OGC is of epithelial origin that can then transition to mesenchymal elements. As part of this study, we describe a case of a malignant pancreatic neoplasm that was discovered in a 69-year old patient as an incidental finding. We also provide an overview of previously published data to highlight UC-OGC's clinical and pathologic features.

A Case of Leukemoid Reaction in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

Leukemoid reaction is defined as leukocytosis exceeding 50,000 cells/mm3. When it occurs in a patient with a malignancy, secondary causes such as infections, drugs, hematologic diseases and hemorrhage need to be ruled out. After excluding such causes, paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction can be considered as a diagnosis of exclusion. Paraneoplastic leukemoid reactions have been described in association with lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary and head and neck cancers. However, pancreatic cancer with leukemoid reaction has been rarely reported. We diagnosed a case of a 55-year-old Korean woman with extreme leukocytosis associated with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Manejo quirúrgico simultáneo de una paciente con cáncer de páncreas distal, tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) gástricos y hemangioma hepático / Simultaneous surgical management of a patient with distal pancreatic cancer, gastric gastrointestinal tumors (GIST) and hepatic hemangioma

Introduction: The occurrence of gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) associated to pancreatic adenocarcinoma has been reported in 0.2 percent pancreatic cancers. There are no published reports on distal pancreatic adenocarcinoma associated to gastric antral GIST and the surgical management of this clinical condition. Case report: Herein, we discuss a 75 years-old female patient who was admitted to our institution with upper digestive hemorrhage. The endoscopy showed large, superficial erosions over the cardia and on the posterior wall of the antrum a rounded sub-mucosal non-eroded lesion suspected of gastric GIST. An abdominal computed tomography scan found a hepatic hemangioma on the left hepatic lobe. In the pancreatic distal body and tail a solid exophytic lesion was identified. In the gastric antrum a rounded submucosal tumor in close contact with the pancreatic lesion was found. The patient was subjected to distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, and distal gastrectomy. The biopsy identified a well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma localized in the pancreatic tail and the proximal part of the body, resected with negative margins. The gastric tumor was positive for CD117, CD34, and DOG-1; it had a positive Ki67 in less than 2 percent, and 2 or less mitoses per 50 high-power fields. Conclusion. This uncommon case illustrates the occurrence of synchronous tumors of different cellular origins incidentally diagnosed and their simultaneous surgical treatment. The individual incidence of these tumors is low and if associated they probably will continue to be found incidentally.

Introducción: La ocurrencia simultánea de tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) del estómago con cáncer de páncreas, ha sido reportada en 0,2 por ciento. No existen reportes publicados sobre cáncer de páncreas distal asociado a GIST gástrico y el manejo de esta situación clínica. Caso clínico: Paciente de 75 años de edad, hospitalizada en nuestra institución por hemorragia digestiva alta. La endoscopía mostró erosiones superficiales sobre el cardias y en la pared posterior del antro una lesión submucosa redondeada no-ulcerada, sospechosa de un GIST. La tomografía abdominal demostró un hemangioma hepático en el lóbulo izquierdo, en la cola del páncreas se identificó una lesión sólida y en el antro gástrico se encontró un tumor redondeado en contacto con la lesión pancreática pero sin relación íntima con la misma. La paciente fue sometida a pancreatectomía distal, esplenectomía, gastrectomía distal y resección del hemangioma. La biopsia identificó en la cola y cuerpo distal del páncreas un adenocarcinoma ductal bien diferenciado con márgenes negativos. El GIST gástrico fue positivo para CD117, CD34 y DOG-1, el Ki67 fue positivo en menos de 2 por ciento y se identificaron 2 o menos mitosis por 50 campos de aumento mayor. Conclusión: Este caso ilustra la ocurrencia sincrónica de tres tumores de estirpes celulares diferentes diagnosticados incidentalmente y su tratamiento quirúrgico simultáneo. La incidencia individual de estos tumores en estas localizaciones es baja y su diagnóstico, seguramente, seguirá siendo incidental.

Neoplasia intraductal papilar quística mucinosa del páncreas y pancreatitis recurrente / Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm

La neoplasia Intraductal papilar quística mucinosa (NIPM) fue descrita por primera vez en 1982 por Ohashi, como una neoplasia del páncreas caracterizada por una proliferación de células neoplásicas mucinosas, que forman papilas y causan dilatación del ducto principal o sus ramas. Las NIPM representan el 1% de las neoplasias pancreáticas y el 25% de las neoplasias quísticas. Son potencialmente malignas, progresan desde una lesión benigna hasta carcinoma en un promedio de 5 años. Afecta con mayor frecuencia al sexo masculino entre 60 y 70 años, con síntomas de pancreatitis crónica o pancreatitis aguda recidivante y se localiza preferentemente en la cabeza y proceso uncinado. La clasificación depende de su localización, en variante ducto principal, variante rama lateral o mixto y la importancia radica en el pronóstico, con incidencia de cáncer que varía de 25% a 70%. Las imágenes (T.E.M y Colangio RM) nos permiten establecer el diagnóstico, la variedad, la localización, la extensión y determinar indicios de benignidad o malignidad. Además la eco endoscopía nos permite obtener una muestra y poder estudiar el líquido del quiste. El tratamiento de estas neoplasias es la duodeno pancreatectomía de Whipple. Reportamos un paciente obeso, con historia de pancreatitis recurrente, observado a lo largo de 10 años por una lesión quística del páncreas que creció en los últimos 24 meses. El estudio eco endoscópico y el análisis del líquido del quiste orientó al diagnóstico de NIPM por lo que se le sometió a una resección duodeno pancreática con evolución favorable. El estudio histológico confirmó el diagnóstico de NIPM.

Ohashi described for the first time the IPMN on 1982 as a pancreatic neoplasia with mucine cells forming papillae and producing dilatation of the main pancreatic duct or its branches. The IPMN represent the 1% of the pancreatic tumors and 5% of the cystic neoplasias. It is potentially malignant in a period of five years being more frequent in males between 60-70 and clinically these patients’ presents as acute, recurrent or chronic pancreatitis, with an incidence of malignancy from 25% to 70%. CT scan and cholangio MRI allows the diagnosis, the variety, localization and possibility of determine malignancy. The treatment is the Whipple resection. We are reporting the case of an obese middle age male, being observed along the last 10 years because of recurrent pancreatitis with a cystic lesion of the head of the pancreas. The CT scan, endoscopic-ultrasound and the analysis of the liquid content suggested a mucinous lesion, reason why the patient underwent a pancreatic-duodenal resection. The histology study confirms the diagnosis of IPMN.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm in tropical chronic pancreatitis.

We report a 56-year-old man with chronic calcifying pancreatitis of the tropics (tropical calcific pancreatitis) who had been asymptomatic and on follow up developed a pancreatic mass that was identified as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. He has been asymptomatic after distal pancreatectomy.

Diabetes mellitus e carcinoma ductal de pancrêas / Diabetes Mellitus and pancreatic ductal carcinoma

Embora a relação existente entre diabetes mellitus (DM) e carcinoma de pâncreas (CP) seja bem estabelecida, a natureza dessa associação ainda permanece desconhecida. As duas questões mais relevantes são: 1) O DM é decorrente do CP? 2) O DM é condição pré-existente e um fator de risco para CP? Apresentamos 2 pacientes com carcinoma ductal de pâncreas (CDP) e DM. Em um deles a hiperglicemia ocorreu simultaneamente com o desenvolvimento do tumor e no outro o DM precedeu de vários anos o aparecimento da neoplasia. A relação existente entre DM e CDP é discutida, tendo-se concluído que tanto o CDP leva ao DM, como o DM pode ser um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de CDP. Sugerimos a adoção de algumas condutas para a investigação de CP quando diante de um grupo especial de pacientes com DM.