Multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer: a case report

Gland Surg. 2022 Mar;11(3):628-636. doi: 10.21037/gs-22-86.

Abstract

Background: Carcinoma of the head of pancreas has a high malignant degree and the 5-year survival rate at 5%. For unresectable pancreatic cancer, the 5-year survival rate is even lower. The clinical diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is difficult, and surgical indications are difficult to grasp. Moreover, perioperative and postoperative management is complex, and patients with different conditions need more attention to implement a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment strategy. In the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer and even other cancers, multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment can provide reasonable, personalized and more effective plans for patients so that cancer patients can receive better treatment and improve their quality of life. The multi-disciplinary diagnosis and treatment model can respond to the complex needs to individual patients.

Case description: This model is designed according to each patient's comprehensive situation, including their clinical symptoms, biochemical indicators, body mass index, and psychological status, and the tumor position, pathological tissue typing, and invasion scope. Complications of tumors can be reduced if treatment is controlled and if radical treatments are used within a broader comprehensive care model, thereby improving the quality of life of patients to prolong their survival. In our case report, the overall survival is much longer than un-resectable pancreatic cancer (median overall survival 6-9 months. The female patient was 53 years old. Her chief complaints were yellow skin, yellow urine, and absorption emaciation for 1 month. The preliminary diagnosis was postoperative pancreatic cancer. CT reexamination suggested portal vein liver metastasis. Repeated gastrointestinal bleeding occurs over the course of the disease. Postoperative review suggested recurrence, and she was admitted to First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University. During the treatment, the disease progressed to gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites, and jaundice.

Conclusions: After multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) discussion, targeted treatment strategies were developed to improve the symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patients.

Keywords: Multidisciplinary treatment (MDT); case report; pancreatic cancer; post operation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports