Gastric cancer following pancreaticoduodenectomy: Experience from a high-volume center and review of existing literature

Background Prolonged survival of patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy can be associated with late complications due to altered gastrointestinal anatomy. The incidence of gastric cancer is increasingly reported. We set out to examine our experience with gastric cancer as a late complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy with a focus on incidence, risk factors, and outcomes. Methods We queried our prospectively collected institutional database for patients that developed gastric cancer after pancreaticoduodenectomy and conducted a systematic review of the literature. Results Our database revealed 6 patients who developed gastric cancer following pancreaticoduodenectomy, presenting with a mean age of 62.2 years and an even sex distribution. All of those patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for malignant indications with an average time to development of metachronous gastric cancer of 8.3 years. Four patients complained of gastrointestinal discomfort prior to diagnosis of secondary malignancy. All of these cancers were poorly differentiated and were discovered at an advanced T stage (≥ 3). Only half developed at the gastrointestinal anastomosis. Four underwent surgery with a curative intent, and 2 patients are currently alive (mean postgastrectomy survival = 25.5 months). In accordance with previous literature, biliopancreatic reflux from pancreaticoduodenectomy reconstruction, underlying genetic susceptibility, and adjuvant therapy may play a causative role in later development of gastric cancer. Conclusion Long-term survivors after pancreaticoduodenectomy who develop nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints should be evaluated carefully for complications including gastric malignancy. This may serve as an opportunity to intervene on tumors that typically present at an advanced stage and with aggressive histology.