Skip metastasis to portocaval and retropancreatic space in T2 cecal cancer without regional and principle lymph node involvement

ABSTRACT

Lymph node metastasis in early colon cancer is relatively low. Furthermore, skip metastasis beyond principle lymph node is very rare. This is a case of early cecal cancer with skip metastasis to portocaval and retropancreatic space, without regional lymph node metastasis. A 69-year-old female diagnosed as cecal adenocarcinoma. The imaging study revealed as early cecal cancer without enlargement of regional lymph node. However, there is enlargement of portocaval lymph node and high fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in positron emission tomography scan image. Right hemicolectomy with extended lymph node dissection was done including retropancreatic, portocaval and hepatoduodenal ligament lymph node. Though whole abdominal cavity exploration was done, there was no evidence of other synchronous cancer. The final pathologic findings revealed the poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with invasion of submucosal layer and focally superficial layer of muscularis propria. Two of total 27 lymph nodes were involved by metastastatic adenocarcinoma which were from portocaval and retropancreatic space. The detailed preoperative imaging study could find unexpected lymph node metastasis beyond range of routine lymph node dissection. Even though the preoperative clinical stage is relatively early, the detailed and sufficient evaluation for clinical and imaging findings is important not to ignore skip metastasis.