Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Mon-Fri 10 am - 2 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

05 June 2023: Articles  Sweden

Liver Transplantation for Liver Metastasis of a Pseudopapillary Pancreatic Neoplasm in a Male Patient

Unusual clinical course, Unusual setting of medical care, Rare disease

Robert Sznajder Granat1EF*, Antonio Romano1E, Christina Villard12E, Mattias Lissing23E, Jeanna Joneberg4E, Olof Danielsson5BE, Carlos Fernández Moro5BE, Carl Jorns1E

DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.938678

Am J Case Rep 2023; 24:e938678

0 Comments

Abstract

0:00

BACKGROUND: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas, which predominantly affects young women, is an uncommon condition with low malignant potential. It is often asymptomatic. This tumor has a low metastatic rate and a good prognosis in contrast to other pancreatic tumors. Approximately 14% of SPNs develop liver metastasis, but for SPNs with malignant features liver metastasis has been reported to occur in over 55% of cases. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for increasing the survival rate in metastatic recurrent disease. When surgical resection is impossible, liver transplantation has shown promising results in a few cases. The purpose of this article is to present the first case of a male patient who underwent liver transplantation for this indication.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 60-year-old male patient who previously had pancreas surgery, numerous liver resections, and chemotherapy for SPN, but nevertheless developed recurrence of multiple liver metastases. His metastatic liver disease was regarded as unresectable. The lymphatic structure was also affected. The patient underwent orthotopic liver transplantation with a deceased donor graft after multidisciplinary evaluation. Resection of involved lymphatic structures was also performed. At 2-year follow-up, the patient was alive and recurrence free.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first published report of a male patient who underwent liver transplantation due to SPN metastasis. Our case demonstrates that liver transplantation should be further investigated for selected cases of SPN of the pancreas with liver metastatic disease when surgical resection is deemed unattainable.

Keywords: Liver Transplantation, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Neoplasm Metastasis, Humans, Male, Female, Middle Aged, Pancreas, Liver Neoplasms, Pancreatectomy

Background

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas, also known as the Franz tumor, first described by V. K. Franz in 1959, is a potentially malignant tumor that is observed primarily in women in their 20s to 40s. It is an uncommon neoplasm, accounting for approximately 2% of all pancreatic tumors. Nevertheless, due to extensive usage and improving precision of radiological imaging, SPN is being detected more frequently [1].

Clinically, it is often asymptomatic, but patients can present with abdominal pain, nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting, and jaundice. Blood biochemistry, including pancreatic amylase, liver function tests, and tumor markers, is usually unaffected [2]. Malignancy potential is suggested to be correlated with tumor size and Ki-67 index [1].

Metastasis from SPNs is rare, with a median prevalence of 14% (range, 2–28%) [3]. The liver is the most common site for metastasis. The optimal treatment for improving survival of metastatic disease is surgical resection [4,5]. Liver transplantation has been reported in a few cases of irresectable liver metastasis. Disease-free survival varied from 9 months to 2 years [6–10].

Here, we present the first case of a male patient with recurrent unresectable and non-ablatable liver metastasis from solid pseudopapillary pancreatic neoplasm who underwent liver transplantation (LT).

Case Report

A 60-year-old male patient presented with jaundice. Computed tomography showed an 11-cm tumor with central necrosis in the pancreatic head and a 2.5-cm solitary metastasis in segment 6 of the liver. The tumor compressed the vascular structures of the portal vein, the superior mesenteric vein, and the common hepatic artery (Figure 1A).

A Whipple procedure was performed, including resection of the superior mesenteric vein and local liver resections of segment 6 and the gallbladder bed for the suspected liver metastasis. Radical resection was obtained. Histopathological analysis of the pancreas and liver samples showed monomorphic epithelial cells with round-to-oval nuclei and vacuo-lated cytoplasm, which exhibited a predominantly solid pattern (Figure 2A, 2F). Degenerative changes, including necrosis, hemorrhage, and areas of pseudopapillary formations, were observed. Extrapancreatic and vascular invasion were noted as aggressive features. The larger liver metastasis showed a predominantly encapsulated pattern, but smaller ones showed direct contact between the tumor cells and the hepatocytes, the so-called replacement growth pattern. The tumor cells in both the pancreas and liver showed identical immunohistochemical profiles (Figure 2B–2E, 2G–2J) with diffuse, distinct, nuclear, and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for beta-catenin. They were also positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratins and synaptophysin. Ki-67 index was 15%. Overall, histomorphology and immunohistochemical analyses were highly consistent with a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas and synchronous liver metastasis.

Due to local intrahepatic recurrence with 4 metastases, a local liver resection was performed 18 months later. This was followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with 3 cycles of Paclitaxel+Gemcitabin and then 4 cycles of the Folfirinox regimen. A new recurrence occurred 12 months later with 1 metastasis and the patient underwent another local liver resection.

Radiological imaging 48 months after the first operation showed 21 liver metastases engaging all liver segments (Figure 1B), and an enlarged lymph node located next to the SMV was observed. After multidisciplinary discussion by the hospital Liver Transplant Board and Ethics Committee, the patient was accepted to the liver transplant waiting list.

The patient underwent liver transplantation 3 months later (Figure 3). The enlarged lymph node was extirpated intraoperatively and showed no signs of malignancy. The postoperative course was complicated by a ruptured mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery, which required surgical resection and endovascular stenting. No adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy was given. Follow-up included alternating MRI and ultrasound every 3–6 months. Histopathological analysis of the explanted tissue confirmed SPN (Figure 2A–2E). The enlarged lymph node showed no signs of malignancy.

Two years following the liver transplantation, the patient is doing well with no sign of disease recurrence and with good graft function (Figure 1C). Immunosuppression consists of low-dose tacrolimus (1.5 mg twice daily) and 5 mg of prednisolone.

Discussion

Here, we present the first case of liver transplantation for metastasis of SPN in a male patient. SPN affects women in an almost 10: 1 female-to-male ratio and it has a low malignant potential and a good survival rate [1]. However, 10–15% of cases of SPN have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and the most common site is the liver. Tanue et al reported that in patients with malignant feature SPN, liver metastasis occurs in 57.1% of cases [4]. Sperti et al reported occurrence of hepatic metastasis 2–168 months after diagnosis of the primary tumor [11].

Survival rates are significantly decreased in untreated metastatic disease. In metastatic disease, radical surgical resection improves patient survival compared to chemotherapy [7]; patients with distant metastasis undergoing surgical resection have similar median survival rates as patients without metastatic disease. In contrast, patients with distant metastases who do not undergo surgical resection have a median survival of 2.1 years with a higher mortality risk compared to patients with metastatic disease who underwent resection (HR 18, P<0.0001) [5].

Liver metastasis has generally been considered a contraindication for LT due to poor results. However, recent studies suggest that careful patient selection and advances in multimodality approaches have substantially improved these results [12]. Only a few cases for SPN liver metastasis treated with LT are described in the literature [6–10]. One of these case reports reported disease recurrence after transplantation. However, the follow-up was short except for 1 case with 5 years of follow-up [9]. These studies suggest that LT is a possible treatment when other surgical and/or oncological treatments are not recommended or suitable.

It is important to consider the suspected effect of immunosuppressive medication accelerating tumor growth in possible residual disease and how the perioperative treatment can be optimized to avoid this occurrence. We applied the center-standard immunosuppression protocol with a combination of tacrolimus and prednisolone, although an mTOR inhibitors regimen may be considered.

In LT for metastatic disease, post-transplant adjuvant treatments may also be considered. In the presented case reports no treatments were offered to the patients. Wojciak et al described a case of lymph node recurrence 1 year after transplantation that was treated with excision, radiotherapy, and switching to mTOR inhibition immunosuppression [4]. Lymph node status was carefully evaluated in our case. The preoperatively enlarged lymph node did not contraindicate LT. It was a singular local lymph node that was assessed as resectable during LT surgery.

Conclusions

This is the first published case report of a male patient who underwent liver transplantation for treating liver metastasis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasm with disease-free follow-up of 2 years. This case report suggests that liver transplantation should be considered as a treatment for selected cases of SPN liver metastatic disease.

References:

1.. Jena SS, Ray S, Das SAP, Rare pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: A 10-year experience: Surg Res Pract, 2021; 2021; 7377991

2.. Yagcı A, Yakan S, Coskun A, Diagnosis and treatment of solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas: Experience of one single institution from Turkey: World J Surg Oncol, 2013; 11; 308

3.. Gedaly R, Toledano A, Millan G, Treatment of liver metastases from a solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg, 2006; 13(6); 587-90

4.. Tanoue K, Mataki Y, Kurahara H, Multidisciplinary treatment of advanced or recurrent solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas: three case reports: Surg Case Rep, 2022; 8(1); 7

5.. Jutric Z, Rozenfeld Y, Grendar J, Analysis of 340 patients with solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas: A closer look at patients with metastatic disease: Ann Surg Oncol, 2017; 24(7); 2015-22

6.. Sumida W, Kaneko K, Tainaka T, Liver transplantation for multiple liver metastases from solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas: J Pediatr Surg, 2007; 42(12); e27-e31

7.. Kocman B, Jadrijević S, Skopljanac A, Living donor liver transplantation for unresectable liver metastases from solid pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas: A case report: Transplant Proc, 2008; 40(10); 3787-90

8.. Dovigo AG, Díaz MB, Gütierrez MG, Liver transplantation as treatment in a massive metastasis from Gruber-Frantz pancreatic tumor: A case report: Transplant Proc, 2011; 43(6); 2272-73

9.. Łągiewska B, Pacholczyk M, Lisik W, Liver transplantation for nonresectable metastatic solid pseudopapillary pancreatic cancer: Ann Transplant, 2013; 18; 651-53

10.. Wójciak M, Gozdowska J, Pacholczyk M, Liver Transplantation for a metastatic pancreatic solid-pseudopapillary tumor (Frantz tumor): A case report: Ann Transplant, 2018; 23; 520-23

11.. Sperti C, Berselli M, Pasquali C, Aggressive behaviour of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in adults: A case report and review of the literature: World J Gastroenterol, 2008; 14(6); 960-65

12.. Petrowsky H, Fritsch R, Guckenberger M, Modern therapeutic approaches for the treatment of malignant liver tumours: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2020; 17(12); 755-72

In Press

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  Germany

Diagnostic Challenges and Imaging Considerations for Intraparotid Facial Nerve Schwannoma: A Case Report an...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942870  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Erdheim-Chester Disease Occult on Radiographs and CT but Visible on MRI and PET

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941169  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Superficial Temporal Artery Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942839  

13 Feb 2024 : Case report  Bahrain

Warfarin Woes: A Rare Case of Hemoperitoneum with Intramural Small Bowel Hematoma

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943519  

Most Viewed Current Articles

10 Jan 2022 : Case report  Germany

A Report on the First 7 Sequential Patients Treated Within the C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in COVID (CACOV...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935263

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935263

19 Jul 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128

05 Mar 2022 : Case report  Brazil

Acute Limb Ischemia After Self-Injection of Crushed Morphine Tablets into the Radial Artery: Role of Infrar...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935336

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935336

02 Apr 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Pseudomonas luteola in a Pediatric Patient. A Case Report and Review of Li...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935743

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935743

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923