Long-term survival after repeated resection for lung metastasis originating from pancreatic cancer: a case report

• Published in: Surgical case reports 2020-04, Vol.6 (1), p.66-66, Article 66
• Main Authors: Uesato, Yasunori, Tamashiro, Koichi, Takatsuki, Mitsuhisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case Report; Case reports; Chemotherapy; Long-term survival; Lung cancer; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metastasis; Pancreatic cancer; Prognosis; Repeated resection of lung metastasis; Surgery; Thoracic surgery
• ISSN: 2198-7793; 2198-7793
• DOI: 10.1186/s40792-020-00832-x

Background Pancreatic cancer has a grave prognosis. Most patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer are inoperable, and case reports of resection of lung metastasis from pancreatic cancer are rare. This patient underwent resection of a lung metastasis twice after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer. Case presentation A 75-year-old man with pancreaticoduodenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer was diagnosed with a lung metastasis 48 months after surgery. Histological findings after thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lung by video-assisted thoracic surgery confirmed the presence of a lung metastasis originating from the pancreatic cancer. The patient refused chemotherapy. A new lung metastasis was detected 84 months following the second surgery (132 months after the pancreaticoduodenectomy). After thoracoscopic partial resection of the left lung by video-assisted thoracic surgery, the histological findings once again confirmed a metastasis that originated from the pancreatic cancer. The patient refused chemotherapy and remained alive and relapse-free after the 10-month follow-up. Conclusion Detection and resection of an isolated lung metastasis originating from pancreatic cancer may improve prognosis. Careful follow-up may be warranted to identify patients who might benefit from aggressive local treatment of oligometastasic pancreatic cancer.