Pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas with hepatic metastases--initially presenting as a benign serous cystadenoma: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Pleomorphic giant cell pancreatic cancer is a very rare and aggressive pancreatic neoplasm. A case of pleomorphic giant cell pancreatic cancer presenting as a cystic lesion and in association with a serous cystadenoma presents a unique case which has not been described before. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old alcoholic man presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. Initially, imaging suspected a pancreatic pseudocyst measuring 4.2 cm. Endoscopic ultrasound- (EUS-) guided fine-needle aspiration revealed a serous cystadenoma. With conservative intervention only (fluid resuscitation, analgesia, and antiemetics) the patient improved and was discharged under close observation. Follow-up scan at four months revealed minimal change. Three months later, he was admitted acutely. Repeat scans demonstrated mild cyst enlargement with new liver lesions. Laparoscopic biopsy revealed pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma with the organ of origin the pancreas. CONCLUSION: This unusual case highlights the challenges in managing pancreatic cystic lesions and emphasizes the importance of considering less common forms of pancreatic cystic masses when the findings are atypical for the presentation. Surgical excision in these cases over conservative steps may be the most appropriate management.

Gastric carcinoid tumor in association with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

A second primary malignancy (SPM) can occur in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoids. A patient underwent endoscopic resection of a gastric carcinoid. Repeat gastroscopy revealed recurrence of the lesion and multiple nodular gastric lesions, while an abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a small solid lesion in the left hepatic lobe. The patient underwent total gastrectomy and wedge resection of what proved to be a hepatocellular carcinoma. This case illustrates the significance of considering SPM in every patient with gastrointestinal carcinoids. SPMs are more aggressive than carcinoids, and awareness and early resection of these tumors may improve prognosis.

Coexistence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and colorectal adenocarcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) represent the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. Over the last ten years the management of GISTs has dramatically altered but their coexistence with other gasrointesinal tumors of different histogenesis presents a special interest. The coexistence of GISTs with other primaries is usually discovered incidentally during GI surgery for carcinomas. CASE PRESENTATION: We present here, a case of a 66-year-old patient with intestinal GIST and a synchronous colorectal adenocarcinoma discovered incidentally during surgical treatment of the recurrent GIST. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the concurrence of histologically proved GIST (strongly positive staining for c-kit, vimentin, SMA, and focal positive in S-100, while CD-34 was negative) and Dukes Stage C, (T3, N3, M0 according the TNM staging classification of colorectal cancer). CONCLUSION: The coexistence of GIST with either synchronous or metachronous colorectal cancer represents a phenomenon with increasing number of relative reports in the literature the last 5 years. In any case of GIST the surgeon should be alert to recognize a possible coexistent tumor with different histological origin and to perform a thorough preoperative and intraoperative control. The correct diagnosis before and at the time of the surgical procedure is the cornerstone that secures the patients' best prognosis.