Diagnosis and management of isolated pancreatic tuberculosis: recent experience and literature review

The increased reporting of tuberculosis of the pancreas is related to a worldwide increase in tuberculosis and an increase in emigration from countries where tuberculosis is endemic into countries where more sophisticated healthcare and radiological imaging are available. Three recent cases of pancreatic tuberculosis in Auckland, New Zealand, emphasize that tuberculosis should now be included in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass. Diagnostic indicators include emigration from, or recent travel to, a country where tuberculosis is endemic, the association of a pancreatic mass with fever, the presence of abdominal pain and a cystic pancreatic mass in a younger male. Radiological appearances might be similar to a mucinous cystic neoplasm or could show a pancreatic mass with involvement of peripancreatic lymph nodes or a mass centred in a peripancreatic lymph node. When the diagnosis is suspected an human immunodeficiency virus test and a comprehensive screening for tuberculosis at other sites should be performed. If tuberculosis is unable to be diagnosed then pancreatic biopsy and culture is indicated. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration for cytology is likely to become the preferred technique. Most patients have an excellent clinical response to standard antituberculosis regimens.     

误诊为胰腺肿瘤行手术切除的胰腺结核6例临床分析

目的：探讨胰腺结核的诊断和治疗方法。方法：回顾分析近3年误诊为胰腺癌的6例胰腺结核病例。结果：6例病人中有结核病史2例。临床表现为腹痛1例,腹胀5例,体重减轻1例,便血1例。6例均经剖腹探查．病理学证实;其中4例获病灶切除。全部病例均经术后抗结核治疗。6例中出现肠瘘1例,顽固性腹泻2例,区域性门静脉高压、食管下段静脉曲张各1例。结论：胰腺结核易被误诊为胰腺肿瘤而手术,故对影像学检查证实胰腺有局限性、囊性病变伴病灶周围及后腹膜淋巴结肿大,且肿瘤指标正常者,应考虑胰腺结核可能。切除胰腺结核可能发生的并发症较为严重,手术治疗应慎重考虑。     

Benign mesothelial cells in mediastinal lymph nodes.

Inclusions of benign tissues in lymph nodes are most often aberrant glandular tissue, including endosalpingiosis, the thyroid, parotid, breast, and pancreas. Nonglandular inclusions are rare and include nevus cells and decidua. Mesothelial cells in lymph nodes are exceedingly rare; only eight cases have been reported in mediastinal lymph nodes and three cases in abdominal lymph nodes. The incidence of benign mesothelial cells in mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with a history of pericarditis or pleuritis is reported in this study. A retrospective search showed eight cases with removal of mediastinal lymph nodes in the absence of neoplasm. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were examined in all cases. Immunohistochemical stains for CAM 5.2 were performed in all cases, and stains for AE1/AE3, Ber-EP4, carcinoembryonic antigen, Leu-M1, B72.3, and S-100 were performed in one case. CAM 5.2-positive cells with features of mesothelial cells were present in five of eight cases. In all cases, the cells were present in nodal sinuses and appeared as single cells or small clusters. The cells were missed on routine hematoxylin and eosin sections in all cases but one, in which they were numerous and mimicked metastatic carcinoma. Malignancy was not found in any of the cases preoperatively, at the time of surgery, or during the follow-up period. Benign mesothelial cells may embolize to regional lymph nodes in pleuritis or pericarditis. In most cases, these cells are few and undetectable on routine sections. Rarely, hyperplastic mesothelial cells may be present and must be distinguished from metastatic carcinoma, mesothelioma, and melanoma.     

Peripancreatic tuberculosis mimicking pancreatic neoplasia

Tuberculosis of the pancreas and peripancreatic lymph nodes is an extremely rare disorder that has been reported with increased frequency in the past several years. Despite the fact that abdominal tuberculosis can generally be managed by pharmacotherapy alone, invasive procedures are often used before the establishment of the correct diagnosis, sometimes leading to unnecessary interventions and delayed treatment. To set the stage for our review, we first describe a case of a 31-year-old woman from India who initially presented with nonspecific symptoms and a pancreatic cystic lesion but was later diagnosed with peripancreatic tuberculosis. We then present a review of the current literature on peripancreatic and pancreatic tuberculosis, with a focus on diagnosis and management of the disease, but we also touch on issues such as epidemiology, infection control, and tissue acquisition. Finally, we offer clues that can be used to help identify patients who present with otherwise vague symptoms who may harbor pancreatic or peripancreatic tuberculosis. It is our hope that this case report and review of the literature will raise awareness and improve the management of this uncommon but serious disorder.     

Solitary Pancreatic Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma Concomitant with Early Gastric Cancer 17 Years After Nephrectomy: Report of a Case

The pancreas is an uncommon site for metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. We report the case of a 70-year-old man in whom a solitary pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma, found 17 years after nephrectomy, was successfully resected, combined with gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. We also discuss the relevant literature, including all the reports of pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma found in Medline. More than half the cases, like ours, were asymptomatic. A good prognosis can be expected once the pancreatic metastatic lesions are surgically excised, especially if it is a solitary metastasis. Therefore, surgical resection of pancreatic metastases is recommended to achieve the best chance of long-term survival. Special attention must be paid to the possibility of recurrence, even more than 10 years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma, and imaging modalities should be part of the routine follow-up to detect metastases at an early stage.     

Isolated pancreatic metastasis from melanoma. Case report

Pancreas is frequently site of isolated metastasis, approximately in the 40% of cases in patient with previous history of malignant neoplasia, more frequently from renal cell carcinoma. The melanoma metastasis can also interest the pancreas in case of disseminated disease (50% of the cases); more rarely the pancreas is site of isolated metastases from melanoma. The treatment of the pancreatic metastases from melanoma is controversial: the therapeutic choices are few and the role of surgery is not well defined. If the metastasis are confined to the pancreas, the surgical treatment can be useful for better long time survival. We report a rare case of melanoma with pancreatic isolated metastasi in a patient with a previous melanotic metastasis to the inguinal lymph nodes without evidence of primitive tumor.     

Unusual cases of jaundice secondary to non-neoplastic bile duct obstruction

Obstructive jaundice secondary to common bile duct stricture is most commonly attributed to malignancy. Here we present three unusual cases that mimicked carcinoma in presentation but were histologically diagnosed as benign inflammatory processes during operative care. The first case was attributed to obstruction-induced chronic pancreatitis secondary to Crohn's disease of the head of the pancreas, the second was due to sarcoidosis within periportal and extrahepatic biliary lymph nodes and distal common bile duct, and the third case was due to tuberculosis of biliary lymph nodes. All were successfully managed surgically, but potentially these patients may have been effectively treated pharmacologically, without the need for invasive surgical intervention, if an earlier diagnosis were available to the clinicians. A retrospective and comparative review of the data of each case demonstrated subtle clues such as multiple enlarged biliary lymph node involvement and only moderately elevated bilirubin levels that pointed toward possible nonmalignant processes.     

胰头癌淋巴结转移的临床研究

目的:探索胰头癌淋巴回流途径和淋巴结转移的特点,以指导胰腺癌根治术中的淋巴结清扫范围.方法:在46例胰头癌标本应用手术显微镜法寻找淋巴结,进行详细的分组,以明确各组淋巴结的转移状况,并进一步分析各组淋巴结的转移频率和相互关系.结果:46例胰头癌平均每例找到淋巴结41.8枚,证实32例伴有淋巴结转移,包括较小的淋巴结,转移率69.6%.第13、14、12、8、16组转移频率较高.6例胰腺钩突肿瘤仅发生14组淋巴结转移而不伴13或17组淋巴结转移.7例阳性的16组淋巴结均属16b1亚组,主要分布于腹主动脉、下腔静脉和左肾静脉围成的三角形区域内.结论:在胰头癌根治性切除时,即使是局限于胰腺内的小胰癌也应作广泛的淋巴结清扫.胰腺钩突肿瘤尤其要注意肠系膜上动静脉周围的淋巴结清扫.清扫腹主动脉周围淋巴结重点应在腹主动脉、下腔静脉和左肾静脉构成的三角形区域内.     

Lymphoepithelial Cyst of the Pancreas: A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

Lymphoepithelial cysts are rare pancreatic lesions of undetermined pathogenesis. The literature on this entity is limited to case reports or small series. We describe a case of 66 year male, incidentally diagnosed as lymphoepithelial cyst of pancreas that was managed by enucleation. This is the first case report of lymphoepithelial cyst from India. An extensive Medline search was carried out for lymphoepithelial cyst of pancreas. Till date less than 100 cases were identified in available literature. All these cases (including our case) were analyzed. This entity has uniform and distinctive clinicopathological features. About half of the reported cases were asymptomatic with most of the lesions diagnosed incidentally. Majority of patients presents with non-specific symptoms making preoperative diagnosis difficult. Lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas is a rare benign lesion, which is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. High index of suspicion and preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology may help in making diagnosis and avoiding surgery in asymptomatic patients.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis

A 63-year-old Japanese man visited our institute with fever of unknown origin. Findings on preoperative imaging modalities were consistent with pancreatic carcinoma, but a positive tuberculin skin test indicated tuberculosis infection. Negative results for MycobacteriumDNA polymerase chain reaction from sputum and bone-marrow aspiration biopsy specimens ruled out pulmonary and miliary tuberculosis, respectively. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy- d-glucose (FDG) showed multiple labeled spots within the pancreas body and chest. Distal pancreatectomy was performed with a diagnosis of suspected pancreatic carcinoma, but the histological and microbiological diagnosis was Mycobacterium infection. A rare case of pancreatic tuberculosis evaluated by FDG PET is reported and discussed herein.     

Carcinoma Arising in the Pancreas 17 Years After Primary Excision of a Choledochal Cyst: Report of a Case

We report herein the case of a 42-year-old woman in whom a pancreatic carcinoma was found 17 years after excision of a choledochal cyst with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Although the incidence of biliary carcinoma associated with choledochal cyst is high, reports of cancer developing in the remaining intrapancreatic biliary tract or pancreas in patients who have previously undergone primary excision of a choledochal cyst are extremely rare. Long-term follow-up is recommended even for patients who have undergone excisional surgery for a choledochal cyst, in consideration of the possibility that cancer associated with the intrapancreatic biliary tract or pancreas may develop. Received: May 18, 2000 / Accepted: November 20, 2000     

胆胰部位结核6例分析

目的 探讨胆胰部位结核的临床和病理特征,提高对该病的诊治水平.方法 回顾性分析复旦大学附属中山医院经手术证实的6例胆胰部位结核误诊为恶性肿瘤病例的临床资料.病人均为中青年,临床表现为黄疸、发热及腹痛.术前影像学检查提示局限性胆管狭窄伴近端肝内外胆管扩张;胆胰周围淋巴结结核病人还表现为胆胰周围实质性占位;胰腺结核病人可见胰头占位伴胰周淋巴结肿大;胆管结核病人胆管周围及十二指肠圈软组织影增多.6例术前均误诊癌肿而行手术探查由病理确诊,术后均予抗结核治疗.结果 经随访所有病例胆胰周围肿块明显缩小,黄疸、发热等临床症状消失.结论 胆胰部位结核与胆胰恶性肿瘤具有相似的临床表现和影像学特征,在术前难以鉴别,常需术中或术后病理检查确诊.经手术或内镜进行有效的支撑和引流胆道,术后积极的抗结核治疗是治愈胆胰结核的关键.     

胆胰部位结核6例分析

目的 探讨胆胰部位结核的临床和病理特征,提高对该病的诊治水平.方法 回顾性分析复旦大学附属中山医院经手术证实的6例胆胰部位结核误诊为恶性肿瘤病例的临床资料.病人均为中青年,临床表现为黄疸、发热及腹痛.术前影像学检查提示局限性胆管狭窄伴近端肝内外胆管扩张;胆胰周围淋巴结结核病人还表现为胆胰周围实质性占位;胰腺结核病人可见胰头占位伴胰周淋巴结肿大;胆管结核病人胆管周围及十二指肠圈软组织影增多.6例术前均误诊癌肿而行手术探查由病理确诊,术后均予抗结核治疗.结果 经随访所有病例胆胰周围肿块明显缩小,黄疸、发热等临床症状消失.结论 胆胰部位结核与胆胰恶性肿瘤具有相似的临床表现和影像学特征,在术前难以鉴别,常需术中或术后病理检查确诊.经手术或内镜进行有效的支撑和引流胆道,术后积极的抗结核治疗是治愈胆胰结核的关键.     

Single pancreatic metastasis from a previously resected carcinoma of the cecum: a case report

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of an isolated pancreatic metastasis from a primary cecum carcinoma. BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the colon and rectum commonly metastasizes to distant sites such as liver, lung, bone, brain, and ovaries. Only a few cases of pancreatic metastasis from a primary colonic carcinoma had been reported. Metastasic lesions to the pancreas are found only in 3% to 12% of autopsies from advanced malignancies. Primary tumors that commonly metastasize to the pancreas are lung and kidney. Most of the patients with metastatic lesions to pancreas also had extrapancreatic metastatic disease. CASE: We report a case of a 86-year-old woman with a single pancreatic metastasis from a primary cecum carcinoma resected 8 months before. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of an isolated metastasis to the pancreatic body from a primary cecum adenocarcinoma is extremely rare.     

Perineural invasion of pancreas head carcinoma

Perineural invasion of carcinoma is of considerable interest especially in the pancreas, because this organ is adjacent to the main autonomic plexuses of the abdomen. The present study was based upon 14 cases of primary carcinoma of the pancreas head in which total pancreatectomy with extensive dissection of the regional lymph nodes and autonomic plexuses was performed. Information concerning perineural invasion was obtained from histological specimens of the pancreas, lymph nodes and autonomic plexuses. Carcinomatous involvement of nerves was observed in all 14 cases within parenchyma of the pancreas head, but never found in the body and tail. Perineural extension of carcinoma to the regional autonomic plexuses was observed in 9 cases, which included the pancreatic capital plexus in 8 patients, superior mesenteric plexus in 3, celiac plexus in 2 and plexus on the common bile duct in 2 patients. This manner of invasion had no relationship with behaviour of lymph node metastasis. Thus, invasion and extension along the autonomic nerves by carcinoma of the pancreas were more common than usually recognized. Extensive dissection of the regional autonomic plexuses should be performed to increase the possibilities of a curative procedure.     

Pancreatic tuberculosis: a medical disease posing surgical dilemmas

Pancreatic tuberculosis is a rare clinical setting manifesting in various ways. Most often, enlarged peripancreatic lymph nodes or growing tuberculomas compress adjacent organs, leading to biliary tract or gastrointestinal obstruction. Clinical examination, laboratory data, and imaging are all unspecific. Diagnosis is frequently misguided toward neoplasia requiring surgical intervention. However, the role of surgery in pancreatic tuberculosis ends in tissue sampling, abscess drainage, and bypassing obstruction. We present three cases of pancreatic tuberculosis: two caused by obstructive jaundice and the third caused by gastric outlet obstruction. All patients were operated on. Whipple's procedure was performed in one patient, and biliary and duodenal bypassing in the remaining patients. Diagnosis was decided by histopathology in all three cases. Medical treatment was effective in all patients. Although pancreatic tuberculosis is a medical disease, surgery is frequently used. Maintaining a high level of suspicion can assist in avoiding unnecessary laparotomies and solving this medical dilemma.     

Hat das Ausmaß der Lymphknotendissektion einen Einfluß auf die Morbidität und Prognose nach Pankreaskopfresektion wegen eines duktalen oder periampullaren Pankreaskarzinoms?

We examined the influence of lymph node dissection on morbidity and mortality of 13 patients after resection of the head of pancreas due to a ductal or periampullary carcinoma. In both groups the radicality of the operation was the main prognostic factor. In ductal pancreatic carcinoma the R-status was able to be determined better by normalisation of the postoperative Ca 19-9 serum level than by the evaluation of the surgeon or pathologist. For prognosis, the quotient of metastatic lymph nodes to resected lymph nodes indicates that an extensive lymph node dissection may increase the long term survival. A lymph node dissection is therefore to be recommended, especially since it does not increase the rate of postoperative complications.     

50例胰头导管腺癌淋巴转移特点的研究

目的 探索胰腺头部淋巴回流途径和肿瘤淋巴结转移的特点,为胰头癌手术淋巴结清扫范围的确定提供理论依据.方法 应用手术显微镜法寻找50例胰头导管腺癌手术切除标本中的淋巴结.分析各组淋巴结的转移发生率和相互关系.结果 50例区域性胰十二指肠切除术标本中共找到淋巴结1916枚,平均38.3枚/例.发现35例共210枚淋巴结转移.第13、14、17和8组淋巴结转移频率较高,钩突部肿瘤更易发生14组淋巴结转移.第三站淋巴结中16组阳性率最高(12%),均为16b1亚组.结论 胰头癌淋巴结转移发生率高,在根治性切除时施行区域淋巴结清扫是必要的.尤应注意肠系膜上动、静脉周围的淋巴结清扫,腹主动脉周围淋巴结清扫重点应在腹主动脉、下腔静脉和左肾静脉构成的三角形区域内.     

50例胰头导管腺癌淋巴转移特点的研究

目的 探索胰腺头部淋巴回流途径和肿瘤淋巴结转移的特点,为胰头癌手术淋巴结清扫范围的确定提供理论依据.方法 应用手术显微镜法寻找50例胰头导管腺癌手术切除标本中的淋巴结.分析各组淋巴结的转移发生率和相互关系.结果 50例区域性胰十二指肠切除术标本中共找到淋巴结1916枚,平均38.3枚/例.发现35例共210枚淋巴结转移.第13、14、17和8组淋巴结转移频率较高,钩突部肿瘤更易发生14组淋巴结转移.第三站淋巴结中16组阳性率最高(12%),均为16b1亚组.结论 胰头癌淋巴结转移发生率高,在根治性切除时施行区域淋巴结清扫是必要的.尤应注意肠系膜上动、静脉周围的淋巴结清扫,腹主动脉周围淋巴结清扫重点应在腹主动脉、下腔静脉和左肾静脉构成的三角形区域内.     

50例胰头导管腺癌淋巴转移特点的研究

目的 探索胰腺头部淋巴回流途径和肿瘤淋巴结转移的特点,为胰头癌手术淋巴结清扫范围的确定提供理论依据.方法 应用手术显微镜法寻找50例胰头导管腺癌手术切除标本中的淋巴结.分析各组淋巴结的转移发生率和相互关系.结果 50例区域性胰十二指肠切除术标本中共找到淋巴结1916枚,平均38.3枚/例.发现35例共210枚淋巴结转移.第13、14、17和8组淋巴结转移频率较高,钩突部肿瘤更易发生14组淋巴结转移.第三站淋巴结中16组阳性率最高(12%),均为16b1亚组.结论 胰头癌淋巴结转移发生率高,在根治性切除时施行区域淋巴结清扫是必要的.尤应注意肠系膜上动、静脉周围的淋巴结清扫,腹主动脉周围淋巴结清扫重点应在腹主动脉、下腔静脉和左肾静脉构成的三角形区域内.