Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Duodenum Secondary to Metastasis From Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.

This report describes a case involving the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the duodenum, which was found to be a metastatic lesion originating from recurrent head and neck cancer (HNC) in a 74-year-old female patient. The patient had a past medical history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tonsillar SCC, and recurrent HNC. She presented with symptoms of burning, tingling, and numbness of the throat and left side of the tongue. Upon examination with an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, an ulcerated hard area mass was detected in the third portion of the duodenum. Biopsy results confirmed the mass to be a metastatic poorly differentiated SCC. The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) metastasis to the duodenum is rare, likely due to the unique anatomic location and the lack of lymphatic drainage in the area. The patient was treated with a combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and pembrolizumab. This case underscores the significance of considering unusual sites of metastasis in HNSCC patients and utilizing advanced imaging modalities and immunotherapy to detect and treat these locations effectively.

A pilot study to evaluate tissue- and plasma-based DNA driver mutations in a cohort of patients with pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursor lesions to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that are challenging to manage due to limited imaging, cytologic, and molecular markers that accurately classify lesions, grade of dysplasia, or focus of invasion preoperatively. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the frequency and type of DNA mutations in a cohort of surgically resected, pathologically confirmed IPMN, and to determine if concordant mutations are detectable in paired pretreatment plasma samples. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from 46 surgically resected IPMNs (31 low-grade, 15 high-grade) and paired plasma from a subset of 15 IPMN cases (10 low-grade, 5 high-grade) were subjected to targeted mutation analysis using a QIAseq Targeted DNA Custom Panel. Common driver mutations were detected in FFPE from 44 of 46 (95.6%) IPMN cases spanning all grades; the most common DNA mutations included: KRAS (80%), RNF43 (24%), and GNAS (43%). Of note, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of RNF43 mutations from low-grade to high-grade IPMNs associated or concomitant with invasive carcinoma (trend test, P = 0.01). Among the subset of cases with paired plasma, driver mutations identified in the IPMNs were not detected in circulation. Overall, our results indicate that mutational burden for IPMNs is a common occurrence, even in low-grade IPMNs. Furthermore, although blood-based biopsies are an attractive, noninvasive method for detecting somatic DNA mutations, the QIAseq panel was not sensitive enough to detect driver mutations that existed in IPMN tissue using paired plasma in the volume we were able to retrieve for this retrospective study.

Acute Mesenteric Ischemia Secondary to Superior Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis.

The thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) can result in ischemia of the intestine. A 71-year-old male presented with pain in the abdomen and a black tarry stool. The findings from computed tomography (CT) with the contrast of the abdomen suggest the thrombosis of the SMV. Heparin was administered, followed by thrombectomy and stenting of the SMV. The patient reported no complications and was shifted from heparin to apixaban and then discharged after a five-day hospital stay.