2a). Biopsies were taken and histological examination revealed morphological findings compatible with an angiomatous lesion. He was referred for detailed imaging and laboratory investigation, including abdominal angio-computerized tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).

The CT scan revealed a lesion between the pancreas and the duodenum with 42 mm × 30 mm, but ill defined, with no obvious mass effect, with multiple millimetric calcifications. This lesion p38 MAPK inhibitor review was associated with slight regular thickening of the wall of the duodenal bulb, which could correspond to angiomatous lesion (Fig. 3a and b). No other alterations were identified, including tumour recurrence at the nephrectomy site. In the duodenal bulb, EUS revealed a multilobulated ulcerated lesion, occupying two thirds of the circumference, violaceous, easily bleeding on contact (Fig. 2b), which was reflected in ultrasound as heterogeneous wall thickness (12 mm). Hemogram (including MCV) and biochemical tumour markers (CEA and CA 19.9) were normal. After the third upper gastrointestinal bleeding (with visualization of a multilobulated, ulcerated and violaceous bleeding lesion find more on the duodenum) and based on clinical history, the patient underwent elective laparotomy. Intraoperatively, a 4 cm lesion was identified in the pancreatic head with

infiltration of the duodenum wall and endoluminal growth, which was resected by classic pancreaticoduodenectomy – Whipple’s procedure (Fig. 4). Histology and immunohistochemistry studies revealed an intrapancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma, with duodenal wall infiltration, surrounded by a fibrous Pregnenolone pseudocapsule (Fig. 5a and b). The surgical margins were free of tumour and no metastases were found in the regional lymph nodes. The follow-up was uneventful with no evidence of recurrence at 12 months. Pancreatic metastasis is a rarity and seen in

only 3–12% of patients with disseminated malignancy at autopsy. Majority forms are metastasis from primary sites such as lungs, breast, renal cell carcinoma, colon and melanoma.6 The incidence of metastasis from primary renal cell carcinoma to pancreas ranges from 0.5 to 3% of all metastatic RCC.7, 8 and 9 However, when these rarities converge, it forms a unique association in which RCC is the most common primary tumour in 30% of all patients with pancreatic metastasis.6 and 10 These are usually detected many years after nephrectomy, ranging from 6 to 8 years.10, 11 and 12 The metastization from RCC to pancreas may occur by haematogenous or lymphatic dissemination, the direct spread to the pancreas being unusual.13 In 2006, Sellner et al.14 identified 236 cases of isolated pancreatic metastasis of RCC, either asymptomatic in 35% of the cases, or presenting with abdominal pain (20%), GI bleeding (20%), obstructive jaundice (9%), weight loss (9%), pancreatitis and diabetes (3% each). Symptoms were tumour diameter-dependent, more frequent in those with more than 45 mm.