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Metastasis to the pancreas.
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
The pancreas is the most important organ of the human digestive system. The enzymes produced by this gland help digest fats and carbohydrates from the food consumed and help reduce the acidity of gastric juice. In addition, the pancreas produces hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which help maintain normal blood sugar levels.
In terms of prevalence among oncological diseases in adults, malignant tumors of the pancreas are in sixth place and can metastasize to other organs.
[ Symptoms of pancreatic metastases
It should be noted that metastases to the pancreas in cancers of other organs are quite rare. It is believed that the pancreas is most often affected by metastases in stomach cancer. In sarcoma, melanoma, hepatoma, chorionepithelioma (cancer of the female genital organs), lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer, metastasis to the pancreas occurs much less frequently.
And according to the latest research, the largest number of cases of metastatic lesions of this gland is associated with renal cell cancer (renal adenocarcinoma) occurring in patients.
Doctors often diagnose primary pancreatic tumors as metastases, and also mistake tumor tissue that grows into the pancreas from nearby organs (the same stomach) or affected lymph nodes (for example, retroperitoneal) for metastases to the pancreas.
The first signs of metastases in the pancreas are pain in the stomach area radiating to the back, decreased and lost appetite, significant weight loss, as well as general weakness and anemia.
In case of oncological kidney disease, even in case of resection or complete removal of the affected organ, solitary (single) metastases to the pancreas may be observed. In this case, this pathological process in the patient's body is not detected immediately, but after a fairly long time from the moment of surgical intervention.
Where does it hurt?
Metastases in pancreatic cancer
Metastases in pancreatic cancer (pancreatic carcinoma, polymorphic cell sarcoma, reticulosarcoma, adenocarcinoma, psammocarcinoma, basal cell and anaplastic cancer) are detected much less frequently than in oncology of other organs. But if they occur, they occur already in the early stages of the disease.
First of all, metastases appear in the adjacent lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity (paraaortic, mesenteric and iliac), as well as in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. These are lymphogenous metastases, which account for 75% of metastases in pancreatic cancer.
Hematogenous metastasis - when cells from the tumor focus are carried throughout the body with the bloodstream - affects the liver, lungs, kidneys and even bones. Sometimes secondary neoplasms connect with the main focus, and such fairly large tumors are easily palpated. Doctors often diagnose these metastases in pancreatic cancer as stomach cancer, since its symptoms are similar to those of pancreatic cancer, the clinical picture of which is unclear.
However, oncologists note that in the case of pancreatic cancer alone, due to a rapid decrease in appetite and increased breakdown of proteins and fats in the body, a patient can lose 12 to 18 kg of weight in a month. The first signs of the disease also include causeless jaundice and diarrhea. In this case, pain can be felt throughout the epigastric region, but the most typical localization for it is in the epigastric region or in the left hypochondrium (radiating to the lumbar region).
Diagnosis of metastases to the pancreas
Doctors do not hide the fact that the diagnosis of metastases in the pancreas, as well as all malignant neoplasms in this organ, is quite difficult. To identify the disease, they resort to various examination methods.
Blood tests can detect abnormalities in bilirubin and other components. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is used to take a tissue sample, which when examined allows the histologist to make the correct diagnosis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdominal cavity, computed tomography (CT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound are widely used in the diagnosis of metastases to the pancreas.
The most common method for diagnosing diseases of the pancreas (as well as the gallbladder, bile ducts and liver) is ultrasound tomography (UST).
Ultrasound examination and computed tomography of the pancreas allow to detect a tumor measuring 2-3 cm. And with the help of ERCP, oncologists determine the extent of the spread of the lesion of the bile and pancreatic ducts, which are dilated with this tumor localization, and the gallbladder itself is enlarged.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Treatment of metastases to the pancreas
When choosing the most effective treatment for metastases to the pancreas, specialists take into account a number of factors: the type of primary cancer, the age of the individual patient, his general condition, the location and size of the metastases, as well as the method of treating the patient's primary cancer.
Among the methods of treating metastases in the pancreas, the most common are: surgical intervention, radiotherapy (in combination with surgical intervention), chemotherapy, radiation (radiotherapy) therapy.
The most modern method of combating metastases is stereotactic radiosurgery, which is performed using a cyberknife. Such bloodless and painless operations for patients are performed without a single incision or anesthesia.
It should be noted that conventional operations for the treatment of metastases to the pancreas in case of oncological disease of the gland itself are usually not performed.
Chemotherapy in the treatment of metastases to the pancreas is carried out with the aim of tumor regression after surgery. This treatment takes several months, but it helps to restrain the growth of cancer cells and prevents their further spread. This method of treatment uses drugs such as gemcitabine, irinotecan, fluorouracil, doxorubicin, etc. Chemotherapy alleviates the condition of patients and allows them to prolong their lives.
Radiation therapy is not used as an independent method of treating metastases to the pancreas due to severe complications that accompany the destruction of the tumor focus. However, this method is recognized by oncologists as quite effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, since the cells of this type of tumor are very sensitive to radiation. With such a diagnosis, radiation therapy is used both before surgery and after it (intraoperative). Radiation therapy helps to reduce the size of the malignant neoplasm in 60-70% of patients, but with extensive metastases it is a palliative treatment method.
Palliative treatment of metastases to the pancreas, like any similar treatment for cancer patients, is prescribed by doctors in cases where the chances of recovery are practically zero. This type of treatment is aimed at increasing the comfort of life and consists of taking strong painkillers, antidepressants and other drugs.
Prognosis for metastases to the pancreas
The prognosis for metastases to the pancreas, as well as for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas itself, is considered unfavorable. For operable tumors, the lethal outcome of surgery is 10-15%, and the five-year survival rate after surgery is 5-10%. However, patients who have undergone surgery continue to live and live three times longer than those who have not undergone surgery.