A 58-year-old man presented with weight loss, jaundice and abdominal pain. Laboratory parameters were compatible with obstructive jaundice. CA19-9 was elevated (214 UI/mL). MRI demonstrated a solid tumor at the pancreatic neck. The axial diameter of the tumor was 2.2 cm, encasing the porto-splenic-mesenteric confluence (>180°), with SMV compromise of 18 mm (longitudinal axis) and without compromise of CA and SMA (Figure A,B). There was no evidence of lymph node involvement or metastatic disease. An endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy was obtained. Pathology revealed a well-differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma. At the same time a biliary stent was placed. The patient received three cycles of chemotherapy (gemcitabine: 1,000 mg/m2 and cisplatin: 50 mg/m2) every two weeks. He also commenced radiotherapy (50.4 Gy in 30 fractions) and infusional 5-fluorouracil (200 mg/m2). The dose had to be reduced by 20% due to thrombocytopenia. At the end of treatment, CA19-9 dropped to 124 UI/mL. Follow-up MRI demonstrated further reduction in local disease, with no evidence of porto-mesenteric infiltration (Figure C,D). Based on his remarkable response the decision was made to explore the patient, so he underwent a Whipple procedure with curative intention.\nHistopathological analysis of the specimen demonstrated a 1.5 cm, moderately differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma with extensive signs of regression, with multiple microscopic infiltrative foci (Figure ). Surgical margins were free of disease.
A 56-year-old female presented with a history of breast cancer treated with surgery and chemoradiotherapy 9 years ago. The previous year she started experiencing abdominal pain and the thoracic-abdominal CT scan revealed a solid mass in the pancreas 30×40 mm in size. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma uT4N1 in the pancreatic neck with vascular infiltration. The patient received neoadjuvant therapy with Gemcitabine and paclitaxel with following radiotherapy. Whipple procedure was performed and the histopathological study revealed pancreatic adenocarcinoma pT3N0. The adjuvant therapy with Gemcitabine was prescribed. The follow up examination identified liver metastases; the BRCA test confirmed the presence of BRAC1 mutation. Finally, the patient received chemotherapy with Folfirinox with good response and no signs of metastatic disease progression.