[Surgical treatment of pancreatic metastases from renal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVES

Pancreatic metastases from renal carcinoma are poorly known. The aim of this study was to report clinical and radiological manifestations, the treatment performed, and the observed survival in 7 patients with this rare entity.

RESULTS

All patients were operated on. One patient had nonresectable tumor. Six patients underwent curative resection. There was one postoperative death. Follow-up after pancreatectomy ranged from 6 months to 3 years. Two patients developed extra-pancreatic metastases one year and 3 years after pancreatectomy respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Pancreatic metastases from renal carcinoma are rare and often occur several years after nephrectomy. However their resection is often possible and allows a good long-term survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1988 to 2000, 7 patients (5 men and 2 women, mean age = 66 years) with pancreatic metastases from a renal cell carcinoma were observed in the same center. One patient had synchronous metastasis; in the 6 others, metastases were diagnosed 4 to 16 years after nephrectomy, and were revealed by pain (n = 2), gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1), faintness (n = 1) or routine follow-up (n = 2). The diagnosis of metastases was made by contrast-enhanced abdominal CT-scan.