[Carcinoma of the colon invading the duodenum and pancreas]

In the submitted case-history the authors present the case of a 60-year-old woman with an extensive tumour of the transverse colon penetrating into the duodenum and head of the pancreas with an intimate relation to the upper mesenteric vein. An extensive curative en bloc resection included right-sided hemicolectomy, hemi-pancreatoduodenectomy and partial parietal resection of the upper mesenteric vein. The pathologist identified in the resected tissue a medium differentiated adenocarcinoma of the large intestine damaging the head of the pancreas and infiltrating the duodenal wall. The lymph nodes were negative and no metastatic affections were revealed. The postoperative course was without serious complications. The few cases of this type reported in the literature illustrate the possibility of successful resection and thus a substantially improved prognosis of the affected patient.