Chylous Ascites, Unusual Association with Ductal Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with Plasmacytoid Morphology: A Case Report and Literature Review

Chylous ascites represents a relatively uncommon condition. In this paper, we present a case of chyloperitoneum associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and a review of literature regarding chylous ascites. A 76-year-old male patient was admitted in emergency department with acute abdomen. A pancreatic cancer was suspected. Subtotal spleno-pancreatectomy, for a nodular mass infiltrating the mild and distal portion of the pancreas, was necessary. During surgical intervention in the peritoneal cavity, a moderate quantity of whitish and thick consistency fluid with milk-like appearance was observed to be accumulated. After examination of the fluid, chyloperitoneum was diagnosed. The histologic examination showed a PDAC, with multiple emboli in lymph vessels, with tumor cells with plasmacytoid morphology, diagnosed as lymphangiosis carcinomatosa. The patient died at 3 weeks after surgical intervention. In patients with pancreatic cancer and chylous ascites, suspicion of tumor-related blockage of the lymphatic flow should be suspected. Prognosis of PDAC should be evaluated not only based on the number of lymph node metastases, but also considering the number of lymph vessels with tumor emboli and the architecture of tumor cells. This is the first reported case of a PDAC with plasmacytoid morphology of lymphangiosis carcinomatosa.