Colorectal Pancreatic Metastases: A Three-Case Series and Literature Review

Introduction: Pancreatic metastases are very rare tumors comprising 2-5 % of all malignant tumors of the pancreas. Colorectal pancreatic metastases are rare - 1.7%. Clinical features: Three patients with colo-rectal pancreatic metastasis were resected in our departament. The immunohsitochemical examination was positive for colorectal origin. Extensive imagistic work-up excluded extrapancreatic disease and allowed the surgical resection. Results: Three patients with personal history of colorectal cancer (2 - colon, 1 - rectal) were diagnosed with isolated pancreatic metastasis (2 in the head and one in body). Standard pancreatic resections were performed (2 pancreatico-duodenectomies and one distal spleno-pancreatectomy). One patient with associated vascular resection died postoperatively. The other two developed extrapancreatic recurrence and only one was resected (alive and disease free); the other died under systemic therapy. Conclusions: Surgical resection is recommended in selected patients, surgically fit, with resectable oligometastatic disease, in high-volume center with experience in pancreatic surgery.