Systemic Chemotherapy in Metastasis-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a highly malignant tumor characterized by early metastasis even at the time of diagnosis. Although pancreatic metastasis occurring in SCLC is a common observation in the literatures, there is currently very limited experience with the metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis in SCLC patients.

Here we retrospectively analyzed patients with metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis and SCLC in West China Hospital between 2009 and 2017. The patients were diagnosed as having SCLC by bronchoscopic biopsy or computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy. Metastasis-induced pancreatitis was established by clinical symptoms, radiologic surveillance, serum amylase, and lipase level. The series included 14 patients, 4 women and 10 men, with a mean age of 54 years (range, 29-76 years). The patients underwent chemotherapy plus palliative treatment (n = 8) or palliative care alone (n = 6).

Compared with patients receiving palliative treatment alone, a trend toward improved survival was observed in patients who underwent chemotherapy.

Our personal experience indicated that chemotherapy might provide a survival benefit in SCLC patients with metastasis-induced pancreatitis, especially those with good performance status.