Anaplastic carcinomas of the pancreas, also known as pleomorphic, sarcomatoid, or undifferentiated carcinomas, are in most cases variants of duct-derived carcinomas. However, their appearance is so distinctive and their behavior so aggressive that a distinction from the ordinary ductal adenocarcinoma is warranted. They comprise about 7% of all non-endocrine pancreatic malignancies. Most tumors are large and apparently more likely to involve the body or tail of the pancreas rather than the head. Most patients are above the age of 50 at the time of diagnosis, and there is a distinct male predilection. Here we report on a 50-year woman who diagnosed pathologically as a anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas. The patient underwent Whipple's operation because of a distal common bile duct cancer 6 years ago. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy were performed. The patient was discharged with a good general condition.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma* ; Common Bile Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatectomy ; Splenectomy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Blood loss and blood transfusion are extremely important determinants of morbidity and mortality following hepatic resection. This is attributed to increased risks of coagulopathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. The hypothesis is that a low pressure in the central veins would be accompanied by a low pressure in the hepatic veins and sinusoids, thereby decreasing blood loss during hepatic resection. This study evaluates the effectiveness of continuing low central venous pressure comparing with high central venous pressure during major hepatic resection. METHODS: 20 consecutive major hepatic resections between March 2000 and August 2000 were studied prospectively concerning central venous pressure which was analysed for 10 cases with a central venous pressure less than 10 mmHg, and greater than or equal to 10 mmHg. The central venous pressure was monitored continuously using a Narkomed Anaesthetic Component Monitoring System (Drager Inc., USA). RESULTS: Low central venous pressure allowed a smaller intraoperative blood loss (<10 mmHg: 1010+/-465.3 ml vs. > or =10 mmHg: 1770+/-916.5 ml, p<0.05), a smaller perioperative transfusion (<10 mmHg: 139+/-276.2 ml vs. > or =10 mmHg: 807+/-799.2 ml, p<0.05), a lower postoperative peak AST (<10 mmHg: 167.4+/-53.2 IU/L vs. > or =10 mmHg: 293.0+/-123.2 IU/L, p<0.05), a lower postoperative peak ALT (<10 mmHg: 96.1+/-55.3 IU/L vs. > or =10 mmHg: 193.2+/-103.5 IU/L, p<0.05), and a earlier resumption of a normal hepatic enzyme (<10 mmHg: 6.4+/-0.9 days vs. > or =10 mmHg: 8.7+/-1.6 days, p<0.05) in comparison to high central venous pressure. There was no postoperative mortality in both group. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining a low central venous pressure throughout major hepatic resection reduced blood loss, blood transfusion requirements and enzyme recovery periods. Lowering the central venous pressure is a simple and effective way during hepatic resection.
Blood Transfusion ; Central Venous Pressure* ; Hepatic Veins ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Veins