Extended radical resection versus standard resection for pancreatic cancer: the rationale for extended radical resection

Abstract

Objectives: This clinical study was carried out to clarify the indications for extended radical resection for pancreatic carcinoma.

Methods: From July 1981 to September 2003, 250 of 391 (63.9%) patients with pancreatic carcinoma underwent tumor resection in our department. Portal vein resection was performed in 171 of these 250 (68.4%) resected cases. The postoperative survival rate was studied using the operative and histologic findings.

Results: Most of the patients who survived for 2 or 3 years were in the carcinoma-free surgical margins group.

Conclusion: The most important indication for an extended radical resection combined with portal vein resection for pancreatic cancer is the ability to obtain surgical cancer-free margins. There is no indication for an extended resection in patients in whom the surgical margins will become cancer positive if such an operation is employed.