Renal Carcinoma Metachronous Metastases to the Gall-Bladder and Pancreas - Case Report

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreas: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Metastasis to the pancreas represents a small proportion of all pancreatic malignancies. Among primary tumors that metastasize to the pancreas, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common causes of metastatic pancreatic lesions. We herein report a case series of three patients with pancreatic metastasis from RCC. The first is a 54-year-old male with a history of left nephrectomy for RCC, in whom an isthmic pancreatic mass suggestive of a neuroendocrine lesion was found during oncological follow-up. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle biopsy (FNB) identified pancreatic metastasis of RCC and the patient was referred for surgery. The second case is a 61-year-old male, hypertensive, diabetic, with left nephrectomy for RCC six years previously, who complained of weight loss and was found with a hyperenhancing mass in the head of the pancreas and a lesion with a similar pattern in the gallbladder. EUS-FNB from the pancreas proved to be a metastatic pancreatic lesion. Cholecystectomy and treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors were recommended. The third case is a 68-year-old dialysis patient referred for evaluation of a pancreatic mass, also confirmed by EUS-FNB, who was started on sunitinib treatment. We report a literature summary on epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in pancreatic metastasis of RCC.

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreas: Case Series and Review of the Literature

Metastasis to the pancreas represents a small proportion of all pancreatic malignancies. Among primary tumors that metastasize to the pancreas, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common causes of metastatic pancreatic lesions. We herein report a case series of three patients with pancreatic metastasis from RCC. The first is a 54-year-old male with a history of left nephrectomy for RCC, in whom an isthmic pancreatic mass suggestive of a neuroendocrine lesion was found during oncological follow-up. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle biopsy (FNB) identified pancreatic metastasis of RCC and the patient was referred for surgery. The second case is a 61-year-old male, hypertensive, diabetic, with left nephrectomy for RCC six years previously, who complained of weight loss and was found with a hyperenhancing mass in the head of the pancreas and a lesion with a similar pattern in the gallbladder. EUS-FNB from the pancreas proved to be a metastatic pancreatic lesion. Cholecystectomy and treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors were recommended. The third case is a 68-year-old dialysis patient referred for evaluation of a pancreatic mass, also confirmed by EUS-FNB, who was started on sunitinib treatment. We report a literature summary on epidemiology and clinical features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in pancreatic metastasis of RCC.

Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma-Clinical Particularities and Seed and Soil Hypothesis

A meta-analysis of 1470 isolated pancreatic metastases of renal cell carcinoma revealed, that, in addition to the unusual exclusive occurrence of pancreatic metastases and the favourable treatment results, the isPMRCC is characterised by further peculiarities of the clinical course: The lack of prognostic significance of volume and growth rate dependent risk factors and the independence of treatment results from standard or local resections. As an explanation for all these peculiarities, according to today's knowledge, a strong acting seed and soil mechanism can serve, which allows embolized tumour cells to grow to metastases only in the pancreas, and prevents them definitively or for years in all other organs. The good prognosis affects not only isolated PM, but also multi-organ metastases of the RCC, in which the additional occurrence of PM is also associated with a better prognosis. Genetic studies revealed specific changes in cases of PM of RCC: Lack of loss of 9p21.3 and 14q31.2, which are otherwise specific gene mutations at the onset of generalization, a low weight genome instability index, i.e., high genetic stability, and a low rate of PAB1 and a high rate of BPRM1 alterations, which signal a more favourable course. The cause of pancreatic organotropism in isPMRCC is still unclear, so only those factors that have been identified as promoting organotropism in other, more frequent tumour entities can be presented: Formation of the pre-metastatic niche, chemokine receptor-ligand mechanism, ability to metabolic adaptation, and immune surveillance.

Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Cancer: Genetics and Epigenetics of an Unusual Tumour Entity

Isolated pancreatic metastases of renal cell carcinoma (isPMRCC) are a rare manifestation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) characterized by two peculiarities: (1). The definite or at least long-term exclusive occurrence of metastases in the pancreas and (2). an unusual low tumour aggressiveness with slow tumour progression and consecutive, good treatment results. According to current knowledge, the exclusive occurrence of pancreatic metastases is due to a highly specific and highly selective seed and soil mechanism, which does not allow metastases settlement outside the pancreas, and whose detailed genetic/epigenetic causes are not yet elucidated. Recent studies have shed light on some of the pathways involved for the protracted course of the disease and highlighted a special genetic profile (lack of loss of 9p, lower weight genome instability index, low frequency of BAP1 alterations, and a high frequency of PBRM1 loss), which deviates from the conventional mRCC profile. Finally, the question of the reasons for the long-term relative genetic stability of the involved cell clones, which is an essential prerequisite for a favourable prognosis, remains unanswered.

Tumour Evolution and Seed and Soil Mechanism in Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma

In metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic metastases can appear in two clinical manifestations: (a) very rarely as isolated pancreatic metastases and (b) in the context with multi-organ metastatic disease. Both courses are characterised by rare, unusual clinical features. For isolated pancreatic metastases, the literature shows no effect on survival in all 11 publications that examined the effect of singular versus multiple pancreatic metastases; a lack of effect on survival time was also present in all 8 studies on pancreatic metastases size, in 7 of 8 studies on the influence of disease-free interval (DFI), and in 6 of 7 studies on the influence of synchronous versus metachronous metastases. In multi-organ site metastases observations, on the other hand, all five available references showed significantly better results in patients with concurrent pancreatic metastases compared to those without pancreatic metastases, although the total number of affected organs in the pancreatic metastases cohort was larger. Tumour volume-dependent risk factors thus remain surprisingly ineffective in both groups, which contradicts the usual behaviour of solid tumours. The reasons for this unusual behaviour and possible relations to tumour evolution and the hypothesis of an influence of a seed and soil mechanism in the occurrence of pancreatic metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma are discussed.

Isolated Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma-A Paradigm of a Seed and Soil Mechanism: A Literature Analysis of 1,034 Observations

Previously documented arguments, in favor of the suspected impact of a seed and soil mechanism, in the development and progression of isolated pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinomas (isPM) are: (1) uniform and independent from the side of the primary tumor distribution of isPM within the pancreas and, (2) the similar survival rates for singular and multiple isPM. In addition, the present study adds new arguments that further confirm the importance of an seed and soil mechanism in isPM: (1) Within the singular isPM, the size of the metastasis does not affect the overall survival; (2) Within the group of multiple isPMs, the overall survival does not depend on the number of metastases; (3) For synchronous and metachronous isPM, survival rates are also not different, and (4) Within the group of metachronous isPM there is also no correlation between the overall survival and interval until metastases occurs. This unusual ineffectiveness of otherwise known risk factors of solid cancers can be explained plausibly by the hypothesis of a very selective seed and soil mechanism in isPM. It only allows embolized renal carcinoma cells in the pancreas to complete all steps required to grow into clinically manifest metastases. In all other organs, on the other hand, the body is able to eliminate the embolized tumor cells or at least put them into a dormant state for many years. This minimizes the risk of occult micrometastases in distant organs, which could later—after isPM treatment—grow into clinically manifest metastases, so that the prognosis of the isPM is only determined by an adequate therapy of the pancreatic foci, and prognostic factors, such as total tumor burden or interval until the occurrence of the isPM remain ineffective.

Robotic treatment of oligometastatic kidney tumor with synchronous pancreatic metastasis: case report and review of the literature

Background

The management of metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, and the role of surgery in the immunotherapy’s era is under debate. Metastatic lesions interesting pancreas are infrequent, but those harbouring from RCC have an high incidence. If metachronous resections are not rare, synchronous resection of primary RCC and its pancreatic metastasis is uncommonly reported, and accounts for a bad prognosis.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 68 years old woman, who presented hematuria at hospital incoming, with radiological appearance of a 13 cm left renal mass, with a 2.5 cm single pancreatic tail metastasis. Work-up of staging ruled out other distant metastases, urothelial cancer and there was no evidence of inferior vena cava thrombosis. We choose a 5-port trans-peritoneal robotic approach using lazy right lateral decubitus. Synchronous robotic radical nephrectomy and spleen-sparing pancreatic resection was performed. The pancreatic mass was completely enucleated from pancreatic parenchyma using a latero-medial dissection. Peri-operative hemoglobine loss was 2.4 g/dL. Total operative time was 213 min. No post-operative complications were recorded and patient was discharged in 7th post-operative day. Histopathological examination showed a pT2b N0 M1 RCC, Fuhrman grade II, with pancreatic tail metastasis; both, primary and metastatic lesions had the same histological characteristics with negative surgical margins. After 9 months patient had no evidence of disease recurrence at radiological studies.

Conclusions

The rationale for surgical removal of disseminated tumor, followed by immunotherapy, includes improving prognosis and enhancing the potential of an immune-mediated response to systemic treatment. A spleen-sparing procedure can adequately preserve post-operative immunologic capabilities. In our experience, the correct assessment of pre-operative imaging data and surgeon skills in robotic surgery seem to play a key role in the success of these procedures. Robotic surgery seems to enhance the possibility to control multiple vessels encountered during dissection. Such a conservative approach may be helpful in future research aimed at uncovering biological features, and also leading to better targeted preventive interventions and more individualized and effective treatments.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12893-018-0371-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Metastatic polyp of the gallbladder from renal cell carcinoma

Background

Gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely rare. The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of metastatic RCC to gallbladder.

Methods

The pooled data for analysis were collected from the case of metastatic RCC to gallbladder encountered by our institution along with sporadic cases reported in literature from 1991 to 2015.

Results

A total of 50 cases of metastatic RCC to gallbladder were recruited for study. Fifty-seven percentage of the primary RCC was from the right kidney and 43% from the left. The median interval between diagnoses of primary and metastatic RCC to gallbladder was 36 months, with the longest duration up to 324 months. Most (70%) were asymptomatic. The size of metastatic RCC to gallbladder ranged from 0.8 cm to 9 cm, with median of 2.6 cm. Majority (91%) of the metastatic RCCs presented as a polypoid mass with narrow stalk, and 82% were hypervascular lesion. The overall 1 year, 3 year and 5 year survival rate was 91.5%, 76.2% and 59.3% respectively, with a median of 26.5 months. Number of the metastatic site, timing of gallbladder metastasis, symptom, tumor size and operation type of cholecystectomy seemed to have no impact on survival.

Conclusions

Metastatic RCC to the gallbladder should be taken into account for a gallbladder polypoid mass with narrow hypervascular stalk during the diagnosis and/or follow-up of primary RCC. Gallbladder metastasis from RCC is not necessarily to be an advanced stage with poor outcome, and cholecystectomy is recommended whenever possible.

Pancreatic metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common cancer, but pancreatic metastasis of RCC is unusual. Because of the rarity and peculiarity, pancreatic lesions from RCC metastasis were described mostly in case reports which highlight the importance of a systematic analysis of this clinical condition.

DATA SOURCES

Data of 7 patients with pancreatic metastasis of RCC treated in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were extracted and 193 similar patients reported in the past 10 years from the literature were analyzed. Epidemiological, pathological and follow-up information were investigated. Potential prognostic factors were compared with corresponding data reported 10 years ago.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox regression showed that asymptomatic metastasis and surgical procedure were independent factors associated with better survival. Compared with the data reported 10 years ago, follow-up of RCC patients has been emphasized in recent years, and atypical surgery is frequently used since it has similar effect as typical surgery on tumor resection while it is able to preserve more pancreatic function.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment should be an option as long as the pancreatic metastasis of RCC is resectable.

Gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

We experienced a rare case of gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Ultrasound, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance findings showed a hypervascular polypoid mass and correlated well with histopathologic findings. The mass showed high intensity on diffusion-weighted images, and the apparent diffusion coefficient was relatively low. These imaging findings are considered characteristic and may assist preoperative diagnosis in patients with history of RCC.

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis to the Gallbladder Detected by FDG-PET/CT

A 62-year-old male presented to the ER with three episodes of diffuse abdominal pain which occurred after eating. He had a history of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), prostate cancer and bladder cancer. FDG-PET/CT scan showed a hypermetabolic soft tissue density within the fundus of the gallbladder. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and surgical pathology revealed clear cell type RCC. This is the first report that features PET/CT imaging to detect RCC metastasis to the gallbladder. Lesions within the gall bladder and their clinical manifestations can be non-specific and PET/CT can help characterize them. RCC metastasis to the gallbladder is very rare but it should be included in the differential diagnosis, especially in patients with a history of RCC.