Sonographic features of liver metastases from pancreatic glucagonoma and acinar cell carcinoma

Abstract

The previously unreported ultrasonographic (US) features of liver metastases of pancreatic glucagonoma and of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma are described. They present as complex masses with hyperechoic solid component, containing echo-free cystic areas; these sonographic features markedly differ from the echo-poor US pattern of the much more common metastases of pancreatic ductal carcinoma. Survival from diagnosis of liver metastases was 45 months in the patient with pancreatic glucagonoma and 23 months in the patient with acinar cell carcinoma. These survivals were much longer than the expected survival of patients with pancreatic ductal carcinoma metastatic to the liver. The US finding of highly reflective lesions in the liver, containing echo-free cystic areas, should alert one that the primary pancreatic tumor has a histotype different from ductal carcinoma. Such US findings could affect the decision to resect the pancreatic tumor and its liver metastases, if histology confirms a malignancy less aggressive than ductal carcinoma.