ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The number of reports of multiple primary cancer (MPC) is increasing because of the advancement in diagnostic imaging technology. However, the treatment strategy for MPCs involving pancreatic cancer is controversial because of the extremely poor prognosis. We herein report a patient with synchronous triple cancer involving the pancreas, esophagus, and lung who underwent conversion surgery after intensive chemotherapy for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain, anorexia, and weight loss. Computed tomography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed that the patient had synchronous triple cancer of the pancreas, esophagus, and lung. While the esophageal and lung cancer were relatively non-progressive, the pancreatic tail cancer had invaded the aorta, celiac axis, and left kidney, and the patient was diagnosed with unresectable locally advanced disease. Because the described lesion could have been the prognostic determinant for this patient, we initiated intensive chemotherapy (gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel) for pancreatic cancer. After six courses of chemotherapy, the tumor size shrank remarkably and no invasion to the aorta or celiac axis was observed. No significant changes were observed in the esophageal and lung cancers; endoscopic submucosal dissection could be still a curative treatment for the esophageal cancer. Therefore, we performed curative resection for pancreatic cancer (distal pancreatomy, splenectomy, and left nephrectomy; ypT3N0cM0, ypStage IIA, UICC 8th). Pathologically, complete resection was achieved. The patient then underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for early esophageal cancer (pT1a[M]-LPM) and video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy in combination with right lower partial resection for early lung cancer (pT2aN0M0, pStage IB, UICC 8th). Eight months after pancreatic cancer surgery, the patient is alive and has no sign of recurrence; as a result of the successful treatment, the patient has a good quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of MPC is challenging, especially for cases with unresectable tumors. Although synchronous triple cancer can involve unresectable pancreatic cancer, radical resection may be possible after careful assessment of the appropriate treatment strategy and downstaging of unresectable tumors.
ABSTRACT
Los tumores malignos primarios múltiples sincrónicos son relativamente inusuales, aunque el número de pacientes diagnosticados con tumores primarios múltiples se está incrementando, dado al desarrollo de procedimientos diagnósticos más sofisticados, invasivos o no invasivos, y el incremento del número de pacientes ancianos. Los canceres sincrónicos al triple fueron reportados en solo el 1,2-1,9% de todos los canceres primarios. Los órganos digestivos son el sitio más común para tumores malignos primarios múltiples y también es el sitio usual del tumor primario. Nosotros describiremos los síntomas, diagnostico y tratamiento de un paciente masculino de 65 años con tumores gástricos malignos múltiples sincrónicos asociado a un cáncer de esófago.
Synchronous multiple primary malignant tumors are relatively unusual, although the number of patients diagnosed with multiple primary tumors is increasing due to development of more sophisticated invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tools and an increase in the number of elderly patients. Synchronous triple cancers were reported in only 1.2-1,9% of all primary cancers. Digestives organs are the most common tumor site for multiple primary malignant tumors and also the usual site for primary tumors. We will describe the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of a 65 year-old male patient with synchronous gastric malignant tumors associated with esophageal cancer.
