Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of synchronous renal mass and pancreatic mass: a review

Abstract

Objective: Synchronous renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and pancreatic tumors are rare clinical events and have been described scarcely in the literature. Our institution has recently encountered one case. This review aims to summarize and present the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that have been presented in the literature for these synchronous solid malignancies. Methods: After reviewing the literature using PubMed, 16 papers were collected that showed a total of 21 patients with a synchronous solid renal and pancreatic mass. The diagnostic and treatment data were then evaluated and analyzed. Results: Overall, 13 patients (59%) had two independent primary malignancies consisting of RCC and a pancreatic tumor, seven (31%) were diagnosed with primary RCC with synchronous metastasis to pancreas, one (5%) was found to have a primary pancreatic adenocarcinoma with synchronous metastasis to the kidney, and one (5%) was diagnosed with primary RCC with a benign solid pancreatic lesion. Of the 22 patients that were treated, 18 (81%) underwent surgery, one (5%) had no treatment, and three (14%) underwent chemotherapy without surgery. In the cohort of patients with surgical treatment 12 (66%) had no adjuvant therapy, one (6%) had adjuvant chemotherapy, four (22%) had adjuvant immunotherapy, and one (6%) had adjuvant radiation treatment. Conclusions: The occurrence of synchronous malignancies of the kidney and pancreas is rare. No clear guidelines have evolved in the literature in regard to diagnostics and treatment of these patients. This review presents recommended diagnostic and treatment guidelines for these rare clinical cases. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicenter review.