Purpose: Although surgical technique in pancreatic cancer has seen significant development, the prognosis of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail is dismal because of it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study...
Purpose: Although surgical technique in pancreatic cancer has seen significant development, the prognosis of ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail is dismal because of it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes after distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy of adenocarcinoma in the pancreatic body and tail. Patients and Methods: 8 patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body and tail were operated distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy between 1997 and 2007. Data from the operative notes, pathologic reports, and postoperative data were reviewed. Results: The median age was 62 years, range 49-75 years. Curative resection (R0) was achieved in 4 patients, and microscopically radical resection (R1) was achieved in 4 patients. The median survival was 15 months, and the 1-/2-year survival was 62.5%/31.3%. Two patients had a survival exceeding 2 years (37 and 25 months). Conclusion: Selected patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic tail and body may be operated on with distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and with results similar to extended curative resection. But if the tumor size were above 5.0cm, extended resection should be needed.