Solitary Pancreatic Metastasis From Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: A Diagnostic Challenge Mimicking Primary Pancreatic Carcinoma

Zeyu Zhang; Changjing Zuo; Xia Zhou; Yelin Yang; Chao Cheng

doi:10.1097/RLU.0000000000006509

Solitary Pancreatic Metastasis From Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: A Diagnostic Challenge Mimicking Primary Pancreatic Carcinoma

Clin Nucl Med. 2026 May 14. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000006509. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zeyu Zhang¹, Changjing Zuo¹, Xia Zhou², Yelin Yang³, Chao Cheng¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Navy Military Medical University.
² Shanghai Atom Kexing Pharmaceuticals Co.,Ltd.
³ Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.

PMID: 42149608
DOI: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000006509

Abstract

A 56-year-old man presented with hyperglycemia and weight loss. Imaging revealed a pancreatic head mass with features suggestive of primary pancreatic carcinoma. 18F-FDG PET/CT confirmed a hypermetabolic lesion without evidence of distant metastasis. Following the Whipple procedure, histopathology and immunohistochemistry (CD34+, Vimentin+), together with a history of resected ankle sarcoma, established the diagnosis of a solitary pancreatic metastasis from dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This case highlights the diagnostic difficulty posed by solitary pancreatic metastases, which can closely mimic primary pancreatic cancer. A comprehensive approach integrating clinical history, tumor markers, and multimodality imaging is essential for accurate differentiation.

Keywords: PET; dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; metastases; pancreatic.