Simultaneous presentation and resection of esophageal cancer and metastasis to the pancreas: a case report with literature review

Background The frequency of metastasis to the pancreas is very low, and the frequency of metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is even lower. Although curative resection of these metastatic lesions has been reported for some patients, the survival benefit of these procedures has not yet been clearly determined. Case presentation The patient was a 54-year-old man who was found to have lower thoracic esophageal cancer. Computed tomography showed a 2-cm tumor in the tail of his pancreas. Since no other obvious distal metastases were observed, the patient underwent simultaneous surgical procedures that excised both the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the pancreatic metastasis. Histopathologic examination confirmed squamous cell carcinoma in both specimens. The patient has been free of disease for 9 months since the resection. A literature review of all relevant cases to date found that the site of the primaries of all cases of esophageal cancers with metastasis to the pancreas was the lower thoracic esophagus. Conclusion Complete simultaneous resections of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and a solitary metastasis to the pancreas is beneficial and may produce good outcomes. However, because of the low number of such reports, further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of surgery.