[Clinical characteristics of metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis in patients with lung cancer].

Objective

To analyze the clinical features and prognosis of lung cancer patients with metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis (MIAP), and to provide clues for early diagnosis.

Methods

The characteristics and prognosis of 8 patients with MIAP in lung cancer admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2002 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and were compared with non-tumor-induced AP.

Results

Sevencases(7/8) were Mild AP, one (1/8) was Severe AP. Four patients (4/8) presented with AP as the reporting sign and lung cancer was not diagnosed until (112±36) days after the onset of AP. Clinical manifestations included abdominal pain (8/8), weight loss (4/8), nausea and vomiting (2/8), and jaundice (1/8). Stages of lung cancer were all Ⅳ.Histopathology proved that seven cases (7/8) were small cell lung cancer, and one case (1/8) was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The median survival time was 11 months. Compared with non-tumor-induced AP, lung cancer patients with MIAP were older[(62±9) vs (48±15), P=0.018], the incidence of primary pancreatic duct dilatation (37.5% vs 3.1%, P=0.004) and abdominal lymphadenopathy (37.5% vs 6.3%, P=0.017) were higher; the level of hemoglobin [105.3±15.6) g/L vs (147.9±24.8) g/L, P<0.001] and hematocrit [(31.4±5.3) vs (42.5±6.1), P<0.001] were lower.

Conclusions

Patientswith MIAP in lung cancer had poor outcome and unspecific symptoms. Old age, anemia, main pancreatic duct dilatation and abdominal lymphadenopathy are diagnostic clues that merit clinical attention.