Duodenal lymphangiectasias - The first sign of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

ABSTRACT

A 41-year-old caucasian female, with past medical history of pituitary adenoma medicated with cabergoline, presented with worsening dyspepsia and unintentional weight loss of 5%. Physical exam and laboratory results were unremarkable for pathological findings. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an oedematous and exuberant lymphangiectasia appearance in the duodenum, with no ulceration or suspected infiltration component. However, duodenal biopsies revealed infiltration by poorly differentiated carcinoma. In the meantime, infection and inflammatory/autoimmune causes were ruled out. A CT scan was performed revealing a thickened and enlarged pancreas with ill-defined limits and several intra-abdominal adenopathies, raising suspicion of pancreatic lymphoproliferative disease. EUS with FNB was performed with biopsy of the pancreas and one of the larger adenopathy. EUS also revealed an enlarged, non-nodular pancreas and a thickened duodenal wall. Mild ascites was detected. Both EUS-biopsies were concordant on the diagnosis of carcinoma with gastric or pancreatic-biliary origin, highly aggressive (Ki67 > 80 %). Therefore, the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was assumed (cT4N1Mx). The patient is currently on palliative chemotherapy and remains paucisymptomatic.