A case of metastatic carcinoid tumor of the pancreas resected by laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy

Abstract

Background: Surgery for metastatic tumor of the pancreas has increased. However, rectal carcinoid tumor is considered to be quite uncommon as primary tumor. We reported a case that metastatic pancreatic tumor of rectal carcinoid tumor was successfully resected by laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. Methods: The patient was a 70-year-old woman who underwent local excision of rectal submucosal tumor, which was pathologically diagnosed as a so-called carcinoid tumor, at another hospital in 2003. In 2009 and 2012, she received two times of hepatectomies for liver metastases of rectal carcinoid tumor at our hospital. In 2013, abdominal computed tomography revealed a 1 cm hypovascular tumor in the pancreatic body. We suspected the metastatic pancreatic tumor of rectal carcinoid and performed laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy subsequently. Pathological examination of the resected specimen demonstrated that the tumor was metastatic carcinoid tumors of the pancreas. Results: Three years and 6 months have passed since pancreatic resection was performed and the patient is now still alive. Unfortunately, liver and bone metastases present, however, her quality of life has been very good under administration of octreotide once a month in the outpatient. Conclusion: We reported a rare case of metastatic carcinoid tumor of the pancreas. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for metastatic tumor of the pancreas is thought to be feasible and acceptable.