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Multidetector computed tomography in the study of pancreatic metastases

La tomografia computerizzata multidetettore nello studio delle metastasi pancreatiche

  • Abdominal Radiology / Radiologia Addominale
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in characterising pancreatic metastases.

Materials and methods

CT examinations of 17 patients affected by pancreatic metastases were retrospectively reviewed. The primary malignancy was renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in eight cases, uterine leiomyosarcoma in two, lung carcinoma in four and breast carcinoma in three. CT images were assessed for lesion number, size and morphology.

Results

Pancreatic lesions were solitary in seven cases and multiple in ten. Lesion size ranged between 8 and 40 mm. Metastases from RCC were hyperattenuating in the arterial phase, metastases from breast cancer and lung cancer were hypoattenuating and metastases from uterine leiomyosarcoma were inhomogeneous. Precise lesion characterisation was obtained by using CT examination in 12 cases. In the remaining five patients, all with solitary metastases from RCC, a precise diagnosis was not possible because the lesions could not be differentiated from a neuroendocrine tumour.

Conclusions

MDCT allowed pancreatic metastases characterisation in 70.5% of cases. The lesions were the manifestation of widely disseminated neoplastic disease, with the exception of metastases from RCC, which were exclusively located in the pancreas.

Riassunto

Obiettivo

Scopo del nostro lavoro è stato valutare le potenzialità diagnostiche della tomografia computerizzata multidetettore (TCMD) nella caratterizzazione delle metastasi pancreatiche.

Materiali e metodi

Sono stati esaminati retrospettivamente gli esami TC di 17 pazienti, affetti da metastasi pancreatiche, secondarie a carcinoma renale in 8 casi, a leiomiosarcoma uterino in 2 casi, a carcinoma polmonare in 4 casi e a carcinoma mammario in 3 casi. Sono stati considerati: numero, dimensioni, morfologia delle lesioni.

Risultati

Le lesioni pancreatiche erano singole in 7 casi e multiple in 10 casi e le loro dimensioni variavano tra 8 e 40 mm. Le metastasi secondarie a carcinoma renale erano iperdense in fase arteriosa, quelle secondarie a carcinoma mammario e polmonare ipodense, quelle da leiomiosarcoma francamente disomogenee. Una precisa caratterizzazione delle lesioni è stata ottenuta con TC in 12 casi. Nei restanti 5 pazienti, tutti affetti da metastasi singole da carcinoma renale, una precisa diagnosi è risultata impossibile, poiché le lesioni non erano differenziabili da un tumore neuroendocrino.

Conclusioni

La TCMD ha consentito la caratterizzazione delle metastasi pancreatiche nel 70,5% dei casi. Tali lesioni erano espressione di malattia neoplastica disseminata, con esclusione delle metastasi da carcinoma renale, in cui le localizzazioni pancreatiche erano esclusive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DiMIMP, Sezione di Diagnostica per Immagini, Università degli Studi di Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy

    G. Angelelli, M. Mancini, P. Pignataro, P. Pedote & A. Scardapane

  2. Unità Operativa Radiodiagnostica Universitaria, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria-Ospedale, Policlinico Consorziale, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy

    G. Angelelli

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  1. G. Angelelli
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  2. M. Mancini
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  3. P. Pignataro
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  4. P. Pedote
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  5. A. Scardapane
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Correspondence to G. Angelelli.

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Angelelli, G., Mancini, M., Pignataro, P. et al. Multidetector computed tomography in the study of pancreatic metastases. Radiol med 117, 369–377 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-011-0736-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-011-0736-z

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