Published online Sep 7, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i33.9822
Peer-review started: April 23, 2015
First decision: May 18, 2015
Revised: May 26, 2015
Accepted: July 8, 2015
Article in press: July 8, 2015
Published online: September 7, 2015
Processing time: 138 Days and 19.5 Hours
Non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-PNETs) are rare tumors that account for 2% of all pancreatic malignancy. About 60% of NF-PNETs present distant metastases and usually hepatic metastases. However, cutaneous metastases are very rare. Herein, we report our experience with a 60-year-old male who visited our outpatient clinic with a mass on his left hip. An abdominal computerized tomography scan demonstrated not only a left hip mass and an enlarged left inguinal lymph node, but also a huge heterogeneous enhancing mass on the pancreas. Initially, we removed the metastatic lesions, which was a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with 50% of the Ki-67 index in the histopathological report. After 3 wk, we performed a total pancreatectomy and a total gastrectomy. Four weeks after the 1st operation, we detected a recurrence at the operative bed on his left hip, and subsequently removed the recurring mass. The patient was receiving chemotherapy based on etoposide and cisplatin treatment.
Core tip: We report the first known case of cutaneous metastasis as an initial presentation of a high grade non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor treated by surgical resection of both primary and metastatic lesions.