Metastases to the Pancreas

Abstract

Metastasis to the pancreas is rare and not a common occurrence. The primary sites of origin for these metastatic lesions to the pancreas include the kidney, lung, colon, breast, and ovary. In addition, the pancreas can also be involved in metastatic melanomas, malignant lymphomas, and neuroendocrine tumor arising from different primary sources. Even with this diverse group of tumors, renal cell carcinoma and tumors arising from the lung remain the largest groups of tumors which metastasize to the pancreas. Metastatic disease to the pancreas is usually part of widespread and disseminated disease rather than being a solitary presentation. However, it can present as a solitary tumor many years after the primary malignancy was initially diagnosed. Radiographic studies, which primarily include endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), are currently the mainstay to evaluate and diagnose these tumors. EUS-FNA ensures a high degree of safety, is cost-effective, and leads to minimal morbidity in patients. It ensures accuracy in diagnosing metastatic disease to the pancreas, which is extremely important for clinical staging as well as appropriate management.