Unusual presentation of a pancreatic cyst resulting from osteosarcoma metastasis

Abstract

Pancreatic metastases are uncommon. They have been reported in lung cancer, gastrointestinal malignancies, breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, lymphoma and sarcoma, and usually have solid morphology. Cystic metastasis to the pancreas is even more rare with few case reports in the literature. However, with the increasing use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as endoscopic ultrasound, more such lesions may be detected. Metastasis to the pancreas from osteosarcoma is highly unusual, but can be seen with the increasing survival of patients with osteosarcoma. We present an extremely rare case of a predominantly cystic lesion of the pancreas, which was diagnosed as metastasis from osteosarcoma. The pathophysiology of the cystic component of the metastasis of osteosarcoma is unknown. Cystic necrotic degeneration of the solid metastasis or pancreatitis secondary to the metastasis with development of associated fluid collection can be considered. Metastasis should remain a differential consideration even for primarily cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Key Words: Pancreas, Cystic, Osteosarcoma, Cancer, Metastasis

Core tip: Cystic pancreatic lesions are more commonly recognized and diagnosed with developing imaging technologies. Metastasis to the pancreas from osteosarcoma is unusual, but has been reported in terms of solid pancreatic masses. This case report shows that metastasis should remain in the differential diagnosis even for primarily cystic pancreatic lesions.

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic metastasis from osteosarcoma is an uncommon condition, seen in the very late stages of the disease. Metastatic lesions to the pancreas are usually solid masses. We present a case of cystic pancreatic metastasis in a patient with a history of osteogenic sarcoma with known metastasis involving the left lower lung lobe.

CASE REPORT

A 53-year-old female was referred to our hospital with abdominal pain, fullness and early satiety. She had been diagnosed with high-grade osteoblastic osteogenic sarcoma, giant cell rich, of her left distal femur four years earlier. She was treated with resection of the tumor and multiple chemotherapy agents. She developed several pulmonary metastases, with attempts at resection one year prior to the presentation.

Two months prior to presentation she underwent a left video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with resection of the lateral and posterior segment of the left lower lung (Figure 1). The final pathology from that surgery showed metastatic osteogenic sarcoma, giant cell rich, 6.5 cm in greatest dimension, invading the parietal pleura, focally involving the inked surgical margins (inferior pulmonary ligament).

Figure 1 Non-contrast chest computed tomography demonstrates a round mass in the left inferior paramediastinal-pleural region with heterogeneous density (arrow). There is surgical hyperdense material seen at the margin of the round mass and right anterior lung region, which was from prior metastases resection.

She had been recovering well from that surgical intervention when she was hospitalized with worsening abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and early satiety at an outside hospital. She was evaluated with computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis, which showed a very large complex cystic mass anterior to the pancreas measuring 19 cm × 6 cm. This appeared significantly enlarged from a month prior where an outside CT at that time showed an 11 cm × 3 cm cystic pancreatic mass in the same location. The cystic mass contained enhancing soft tissue components posteriorly as well as solid components that appeared to have significantly enlarged.

She was sent to interventional radiology for drainage of the cystic lesion where approximately 1400 cc’s of fluid were obtained resulting in significant improvement of her symptoms. Cytologic analysis of the fluid at that time was negative for malignancy. Her pain was controlled with narcotics as needed, with plans for repeat ultrasound in two weeks for evaluation of fluid reaccumulation. Her abdominal symptoms initially were controlled, but returned several days later prompting her to present to our hospital.

On initial exam at our hospital, she appeared emaciated and weak with abdominal fullness in the epigastric area without rebound appreciated on palpation. Review of her history revealed no personal history of pancreatitis or excessive alcohol use. Laboratory data showed an anemia with a hemoglobin of 8.1 g/dL, hyponatremia and hypokalemia with values of 130 mmol/L and 2.8 mmol/L respectively, and mildly elevated lipase measuring 185 U/L. Her serum CA 19-9 was elevated at 39.0 U/mL.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was performed in our hospital, where extrinsic compression of the stomach was found along the posterior wall. An oval mass with both solid and cystic components was identified involving the genu, body, and tail of the pancreas. Normal pancreatic tissue was not well seen due to the size of the lesion with one large cystic component in the body and genu extending to the liver hilum (Figure 2A). The mass measured 11 cm × 10 cm in size with blood flow observed within the solid component (Figure 2B). Diagnostic and therapeutic needle aspiration was performed, revealing a turbid, brown, thin liquid suggestive of old blood. Samples were sent for cell count and differential, amylase, cytology, microbiology and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). A total of 1000 cc’s was aspirated from the cystic component, significantly reducing the cystic collection (Figure 2C). At the conclusion of the EUS, no overtly hypoechoic areas suspicious for malignancy were identified, with an initial differential diagnosis including solid pseudopapillary tumor vs serous cystadenoma with large cystic component. A pseudocyst was thought to be less likely due to the lack of pancreatitis by history.

Figure 2 Endoscopic ultrasound imaging. A: Showing a large pancreatic cystic mass in the head/genu of the pancreas; B: Showing blood flow within solid components of the pancreatic mass (blue Doppler flow); C: Showing decompression of the pancreatic cystic lesion with residual solid component.

CT of the abdomen with and without contrast agent was performed after her EUS, showing a large multiloculated cystic mass extending from the hepatic hilum into the pelvis replacing a majority of the pancreatic parenchyma in the neck, body, and tail (Figure 3). The edges of the mass appeared to abut the liver at the gallbladder fossa as well as the right and left lobes with portions of the duodenum also encased by the mass. In addition, the distal portion of the stomach appeared compressed by the mass with resulting dilation in the fundus. The head and distal tail of the pancreas appeared normal other than possible minimal ductal dilation in the distal tail, and the bile ducts appeared non-dilated (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Post-contrast venous phase abdominal computed tomography. A: Demonstrating a large (20 cm × 6 cm × 12 cm) abdominal mass with peripheral rim enhancement as well as some areas of thickened nodular enhancement in the periphery. There is a wispy enhancing area of probable pancreatic tissue in the posterior mid aspect of the mass in the expected location of the pancreatic neck, body and proximal tail. The portal splenic confluence and downstream SMV are inseparable from the mass; B: The cystic mass abuts the liver at the gallbladder fossa, and surrounds the gallbladder (arrow); C: Coronal reconstruction. Giant cystic-predominant mass (arrows) extends from the hepatic hilum, and surrounds the gallbladder.

Fluid analysis from her EUS guided fine needle aspiration had a cell count with 3891 × 10⁶/L nucleated cells and 23176 × 10⁶/L red blood cells. Cyst fluid CEA was 2.4 ng/mL and amylase was 18160 U/L suggesting against serous cystadenoma, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, or mucinous cystadenoma. Cytology results confirmed malignant cells with numerous multinucleated giant cells, consistent with osteosarcoma metastasis to the pancreas. The tumor was highly cellular and showed frequent mitotic activity (17 mitoses per 10 high powered fields). When compared to the patient’s prior lung resection for metastatic osteosarcoma, similar morphology was observed. While the differential for such findings also includes undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (which are negative for keratin markers 50% of the time), in light of the patient’s oncologic history, this pancreatic cystic tumor was deemed to be an osteosarcoma metastasis.

DISCUSSION

Cystic pancreatic lesions may be classified into inflammatory fluid collections, non-neoplastic cysts, cystic neoplasms, and cystic degeneration of solid tumors (Table 1). Inflammatory fluid collections, which are not true epithelial cysts, can be subclassified into acute peripancreatic fluid collections, pseudocysts, acute necrotic collections, and walled-off pancreatic necrosis, according to the revised Atlanta classification[1]. Non-neoplastic pancreatic cysts have no malignant potential and include true cysts (benign epithelial cysts), retention cysts, mucinous non-neoplastic cysts[2] and lymphoepithelial cysts[3]. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms include serous cystic tumor, most of which are serous cystadenomas (SCA), mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPEN)[4]. MCNs and IPMNs are premalignant or malignant. SPENs are thought to have low malignant potential and SCAs have low or no malignant potential[5]. Necrotic degeneration of solid tumors can be seen with neuroendocrine tumors, ductal adenocarcinomas, and acinar cell carcinoma. Follow-up and treatment options are based on the diagnostic criteria such as imaging findings and pathology results of biopsy specimens[6].

Table 1 Classification of the most common cystic pancreatic lesions.

Cystic pancreatic lesions
Inflammatory fluid collections
Acute peripancreatic fluid collections
Pseudocysts
Acute necrotic collections
Walled-off pancreatic necrosis
Non-neoplastic cysts
True cysts (benign epithelial cysts)
Retention cysts
Mucinous non-neoplastic cysts
Lymphoepithelial cysts
Cystic neoplasms
Serous cystadenoma
Mucinous cystic neoplasm
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm
Cystic degeneration of solid tumors
Neuroendocrine tumors
Ductal adenocarcinoma
Acinar cell carcinoma

Pancreatic lesions are increasingly diagnosed with the use of radiologic examinations such as ultrasound, CT, magnetic resonance and lately EUS, which carries the benefit of needle aspiration via endosonographic guided biopsy. Pancreatic metastases are uncommon, but have been reported in malignancies originating in the lung, gastrointestinal tract, breast, kidneys, as well as in melanoma, lymphoma and sarcoma. Their incidence ranges from 1.6% to 12% at autopsy of cancer patients depending on the primary tumor location[7,8].

There are case reports of cystic metastasis to the pancreas from pulmonary carcinoma[9], as well as Merkel cell carcinoma, which is a primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin[10].

Regarding osteosarcoma, it most commonly metastasizes to the lungs, followed by skeleton, pleura, heart and lymph nodes. Soft tissue or abdominal organ metastases are extremely rare but can be seen in late stages[11,12]. Calcification or ossification can be seen within the lesion[13]. There are few reports of pancreatic metastases from osteosarcoma in the literature. However, most of these are solid metastases[14-18]. There is a case report of a cystic-solid mass on the head of the pancreas with the diagnosis of metastatic osteosarcoma in an 18 year old, which was confirmed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of necrotic debris[19]. The pathophysiology of the cystic component of the metastasis of osteosarcoma is unknown. Cystic, necrotic degeneration of the solid metastasis or pancreatitis secondary to the metastasis with development of associated fluid collection can be considered. Our current case presentation is even more unusual with a predominantly cystic osteosarcoma metastasis to the pancreas without evidence of calcification.

Pancreatic metastases from osteosarcoma, although rare, may be seen more frequently with the continued improvement in treatment and increasing survival of patients with osteosarcoma. Furthermore, metastasis should remain a differential consideration even for a mostly cystic pancreatic mass in a patient with a known primary malignancy.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

A 53-years-old female with a history of osteosarcoma metastasize to lung presented with abdominal pain, fullness and early satiety.

Clinical diagnosis

Abdominal fullness in the epigastric area without rebound on palpation.

Differential diagnosis

Abdominal mass, enteric obstruction.

Labaratory diagnosis

HGB 8.1 g/dL, Na 130 mmol/L, K 2.8 mmol/L, serum lipase 185 U/L, serum CA 19-9 39.0 U/mL.

Imaging diagnosis

Endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography scan showed large multiloculated cystic mass (11 cm × 10 cm) involving the genu, body, and tail of the pancreas, extending from the hepatic hilum into the pelvis.

Pathological diagnosis

Diagnostic needle aspiration cytology revealed malignant cells with numerous multinucleated giant cells, consistent with osteosarcoma metastasis to the pancreas. The tumor was highly cellular and showed frequent mitotic activity (17 mitoses per 10 high powered fields).

Treatment

Therapeutic needle aspiration was performed to control the abdominal symptoms.

Related reports

There are few reports of pancreatic metastases from osteosarcoma in the literature. However, most of these are solid metastases. The authors have found a case report of a cystic-solid mass on the head of the pancreas, which was an osteosarcoma metastasis, also diagnosed with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of necrotic debris.

Term explanation

Cystic osteosarcoma metastasis to the pancreas is an unusual presentation of a metastatic lesion of pancreas, which can be seen with the increasing survival of patients with osteosarcoma.

Experiences and lessons

Pancreatic metastases from osteosarcoma, although rare, may be seen more frequently with the continued improvement in treatment and increasing survival of patients with osteosarcoma. Furthermore, metastasis should remain a differential consideration even if a cystic component is present within a pancreatic mass in a patient with known primary malignancy.

Peer-review

This is a straight forward case report of a metastatic bone tumor to the pancreas presenting as a cystic pancreatic mass lesion. The case raises several interesting points and the images are adequate.