Introduction: The incidence of biliary obstruction is 5 cases per 1000 people in the United States with reports of 21% caused by metastatic lesions to the pancreaticobiliary system. Metastatic lesion to the pancreas is rare, with few cases on uterine squamous cell cancer (SCC) metastasizing to the pancreas. We present a case report of a uterine cervical SCC with metastasis to the pancreas resulting in biliary obstruction.
Case Description/Methods: A 51-year-old female with a history of stage 4b uterine cervical SCC previously treated with radiation and chemotherapy six years prior presented with elevated aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels two times the upper limit of normal and jaundice.
Prior to presentation she was in remission. However, CT on presentation demonstrated new thickening of the midthoracic esophagus, with subcarinal lymphadenopathy and a 1.9 x 2.2 cm mass in the uncinate process of the pancreas causing biliary dilation. Follow-up PET imaging showed evidence of a new intense uptake in the pre-carinal space and new pancreatic head involvement (Fig 1a).
She simultaneously underwent an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for stent placement (Fig 1b). EUS showed a 21 mm x 20 mm hypoechoic lesion at the pancreatic head/uncinate process (Figure 1c). A fine needle biopsy was performed. Pathologic evaluation was consistent with a metastatic lesion secondary to a keratinizing SCC subtype was identified. (Figure 1d).
Discussion: Metastasis to the pancreas accounts for 2-5% of pancreatic malignancies. Majority of SCC are associated with cervical high risk-human papilloma virus (HPV) with HPV-16 and HPV-18 being responsible for the most common types of cervical cancers. To date there have been only two published reports in the literature on SCC of the uterine cervix metastasizing to the pancreas. This case report emphasizes the importance of differentiating primary pancreatic carcinomas from metastatic lesions to the pancreas from other primary sources. There are various imaging modalities for diagnosis such as PET, CT, MRI/MRCP, ultrasonography, and EUS. In our case we were able to identify a new mass in the pancreas with CT, MRI and PET imaging and diagnose it with EUS. The usage of EUS to achieve accurate histopathologic diagnosis is becoming more important to tailor specific management and treatment options for pancreatic tumors
