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Distribution of liver metastases based on the site of primary pancreatic carcinoma

  • Oncology
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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate whether the different location of pancreatic adenocarcinoma affects the lobar distribution of metastases to the liver.

Methods

From all patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations for staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the last 4 years we selected 80 patients (42 men, 38 women; mean age, 60.56 years) with liver metastases and a pancreatic adenocarcinoma of the head (group A, 40 patients; diameter, 32.41 ± 2.28 mm) or body-tail (group B, 40 patients; diameter, 52.21 ± 2.8 mm). We analysed tumour site, diameter, vascular invasion and number of metastases in each lobe of the liver. The total number of metastases was compared between the two groups with an unpaired t-test, while Fisher’s test was used to compare the number of metastases within the two lobes.

Results

As expected, the number of liver metastases was higher in group B than in group A. The ratio of metastases in the right-to-left hemi-liver was 7.4:1 for group A compared with 3.3:1 for group B (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Although the number of liver metastases is higher in the right lobe than in the left lobe in both groups, there is a significant difference in the ratio of metastases between the right and the left hemi-liver. This supports the existence of a streamline phenomenon and a selective lobar distribution of metastases within the liver.

Key Points

• Pancreatic adenocarcinoma presents with liver metastases in 40 % of cases

• The presence of liver metastases disqualifies the patient from curative surgery

• The distribution of metastases within the liver depends on the site of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

• The distribution of liver metastases is due to the streamline phenomenon

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Professor Roberto Pozzi Mucelli. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. Institutional Review Board approval was not required because this is a retrospective study. Written informed consent was not required for this study because this is a retrospective study. Methodology: retrospective, observational, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Radiologia, Policlinico GB Rossi, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, P. le LA Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Maria Chiara Ambrosetti, Giulia A. Zamboni & Roberto Pozzi Mucelli

Authors
  1. Maria Chiara Ambrosetti
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  2. Giulia A. Zamboni
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  3. Roberto Pozzi Mucelli
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Correspondence to Maria Chiara Ambrosetti.

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Ambrosetti, M.C., Zamboni, G.A. & Mucelli, R.P. Distribution of liver metastases based on the site of primary pancreatic carcinoma. Eur Radiol 26, 306–310 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3843-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3843-8

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