Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma During Pregnancy.

We present a rare case of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed antepartum. A high index of suspicion must be maintained to diagnose pancreatic cancer during pregnancy. We recommend a thorough history and physical and aggressive pursuit of sensitive imaging in patients with persistent symptoms.

Laparoscopy for stage IV melanoma in two organs.

Metastatic melanoma remains a disease associated with poor outcomes. Traditionally, surgical intervention plays a minimal role in its treatment. However, more recent studies document that complete surgical resection of distant metastases is associated with 5-year survival rates of 15% to 30%.

Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for Ménétrier's disease.

Most patients with Ménétrier's disease are treated nonoperatively with nutritional support, antacids, and pain medications. Surgical intervention is rarely required. We report the case of a 41-year-old male with HIV and hepatitis B who presented with weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Prospective study of the ability of serial measurements of serum chromogranin A and gastrin to detect changes in tumor burden in patients with gastrinomas.

Background: Assessment of tumor burden changes is essential for the management of patients with neuroendocrine gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. Chromogranin A (CgA) is a tumor marker for such tumors; however, to the authors' knowledge, there is little information on whether serial assessments can assess changes in tumor burden. In this prospective study of patients with gastrinomas, serial changes in serum CgA levels were compared with changes in levels of the specific tumor marker gastrin to determine whether they reflected changes in tumor burden.

Prospective study of the antitumor efficacy of long-term octreotide treatment in patients with progressive metastatic gastrinoma.

Background: Malignant pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) have a poor prognosis and existing antitumor treatments are unsatisfactory. Recent studies have shown somatostatin analogues to have antitumor growth effects in patients with malignant PETs; however, to the authors' knowledge, little information exists regarding their efficacy or effect on survival in patients with progressive malignant gastrinoma, the most common symptomatic malignant PET. The purpose of the current study was to study prospectively the efficacy, safety, and effect on survival of long-term treatment with octreotide in consecutive patients with progressive malignant gastrinoma.