Treatment: Surgery (Pancreas)

A curative resection for pancreatic cancer leaves the patient both diabetic and without exocrine gland function. Operative mortality is high, and the high morbidity in a patient with a short life span must be weighed against the relatively low potential benefit.

Palliative bypass surgery is more commonly performed to control pain and improve biliary flow.

Tumors confined to the Ampulla of Vater are candidates for radical surgery, and solitary primary liver tumors may be curable with hepatic lobectomy.

Key:
X = complete
* = partial
o = optional
• = see note under procedure

Tissues Removed
Pancreas Stomach Spleen Duodenum Lymph Nodes Other Organs
Local surgical excision *          
Partial surgical excision *          
Total pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy x   o      
Complete/partial pancreatectomy subtotal gastrectomy, duodenectomy, with or without splenectomy */x * o x o  
Whipple's operation */x * o x o  
Radical regional (partial) pancreatectomy with lymph node dissection
  • includes adjacent soft tissue resection
 *       x •
Pancreatectomy, Not Otherwise Specified */x    
Surgery of regional/distant sites /nodes only           */x