Solitary Synchronous Pancreatic Metastasis from Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Pancreas is an organ that is hardly affected by metastasis from other primary cancers; also, pancreatic metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an extremely infrequent entity. Metastatic esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis and the five-year survival rate is less than 5%. Here, we described a rare case of a 78-year-old woman presented with abdominal bloating, intermittent mild nausea, and loss of appetite and weight. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed ESCC in the upper part of esophagus. A mass lesion between the head and body of pancreas was detected during metastatic work-up. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was performed, morphologic features and immunohistochemistry confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma from esophagus. Definitive chemoradiotherapy with curative intent was done on both oesophageal and pancreatic lesion. Interestingly, after nine months of treatment, the patient had no issues either in esophagus or in abdomen. In conclusion, local therapy could be considered as one of the best choices to improve the overall survival in ESCC with single metastasis to pancreas.

Keywords

• definitive chemoradiotherapy
• esophagus
• pancreas neoplasm
• solitary metastasis
• radiotherapy