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World Journal of Surgical Oncology

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas

Authors: Po-Chung Kuo, Shih-Chin Chen, Yi-Ming Shyr, Ying-Ju Kuo, Rheun-Chuan Lee, Shin-E Wang

Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas is extremely rare. This article tries to summarize the clinical features and outcomes of pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma.

Methods

The data pool for analysis includes the case we encountered with hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas and the reported cases in the literature.

Results

Twenty-three cases of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas were analyzed. This tumor occurred more frequently in male than in female patients (69.6 vs. 30.4 %). Tumor sizes range from 0.5 to 11.0 cm with median of 6.0 cm. The most common symptom was epigastric pain (36.4 %). When the tumor locates at pancreatic head, nausea/vomiting (62.5 %) is more common, followed by jaundice and epigastric pain (50.0 %). For those at pancreatic body-tail, 42.9 % of the patients presented no symptom. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was abnormally elevated in 60 % of the cases. Hepatoid carcinoma in the pancreas could be either pure form or mixed form with other malignancy (40.9 %), with the most common coexisted pathology of malignant neuroendocrine tumor (22.7 %). Metastasis occurred in 36.4 % of the cases at the diagnosis of this tumor, including liver metastasis in 31.8 % and lymph node metastasis in 21.1 %. The overall 1-year survival rate was 71.1 % and 5-year 40.4 %, with a median of 13.0 months. Unresectability, hepatic, and lymph node metastases are associated with negative impact on survival outcome.

Conclusions

Elevation of serum AFP may be a clue leading to the diagnosis of pancreatic hepatoid carcinoma. This tumor could be mixed form with other malignancy. Surgical resection should be the treatment of choice whenever possible.

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Title: Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas
Authors: Po-Chung Kuo
Shih-Chin Chen
Yi-Ming Shyr
Ying-Ju Kuo
Rheun-Chuan Lee
Shin-E Wang
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7819
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-015-0586-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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