Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. May 15, 2012; 4(5): 109-114
Published online May 15, 2012. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v4.i5.109
Analysis of liver metastasis after resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Kwang Yeol Paik, Seong Ho Choi, Jin Seok Heo, Dong Wook Choi
Kwang Yeol Paik, Department of Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University, College of Medicine, # 62 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, 150-713 Seoul, South Korea
Seong Ho Choi, Jin Seok Heo, Dong Wook Choi, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 135-710 Seoul, South Korea
Author contributions: Paik KY and Choi SH designed and coordinated the study; Paik KY collected the clinical data and analyzed the data and prepared the manuscript; Heo JS and Choi DW revised critically for important intellectual content; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Correspondence to: Seong Ho Choi, MD, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, 135-710 Seoul, South Korea. pancreas@skku.edu
Telephone: +82-2-34103469 Fax: +82-2-34100040
Received: November 1, 2011
Revised: April 23, 2012
Accepted: May 2, 2012
Published online: May 15, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the risk factors affecting the liver metastasis (LM) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after resection.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 101 PDAC patients who underwent surgical resection at the Samsung Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2004. Forty one patients with LM were analyzed for the time of metastasis, prognostic factors affecting LM, and survival.

RESULTS: LM was found in 40.6%. The median time of the LM (n = 41) was 6.0 ± 4.6 mo and most LM occurred within 1 year. In univariate analysis, tumor size, preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and perineural invasion were factors affecting LM after resection. In multivariate analysis, tumor size was the most important factor for LM. In univariate analysis, tumor cell differentiation was significant to LM in low-risk groups.

CONCLUSION: LM after resection of PDAC occurs early and shows poor survival. Tumor size is the key indicator for LM after resection.

Keywords: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Liver metastasis; Recurrence