Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for cystic neoplasm: a limited but cancer-preventive procedure.

BACKGROUND: Cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas are found in up to 10% of all pancreatic lesions. A malignant transformation of cystic neoplasia is observed in intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMN) lesions in 60% and in mucinous cystic tumor (MCN) lesions in up to 30%. For cystic neoplasia located monocentrically in the pancreatic head and that do not have an association with an invasive pancreatic cancer, the duodenum-preserving total head resection has been used in recent time as a limited surgical procedure. PATIENTS: An indication to duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection is considered for patients who do not have clinical signs of an advanced cancer in the lesion and who have main-duct IPMN and monocentric MCN lesions. In 104 patients with cystic neoplastic lesions in the Ulm series, 32% finally had a carcinoma in situ or an advanced pancreatic cancer. The application of a duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection in patients with asymptomatic cystic lesion is based on the size of the tumor and the tumor relation to the pancreatic ducts. For patients who have preoperatively clinical signs of malignancy, a Kausch-Whipple type of oncologic resection is recommended. RESULTS: Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection is used in several modifications. The surgical procedure is a limited pancreatic head resection which necessitates segmental resection of the peripapillary duodenum. Hospital mortality is very low; in most published series it is 0%. The long-term outcome is determined by completeness of resection for both -- benign and malignant -- entities. Careful evaluation of the frozen section results has a pivotal role for intraoperative decision making. CONCLUSION: A duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection is a limited surgical procedure for patients who suffer a local monocentric, cystic neoplastic lesion in the pancreatic head. Absence of an advanced pancreatic cancer and completeness of extirpation of the benign tumor determine the long-term outcome. In regards to the location of the lesion in the pancreatic head, several modifications have been applied with low hospital morbidity and mortality below 1%.

Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for cystic neoplastic lesions in the head of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas are now found with increasing frequency. Duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection with segmental resection of the duodenum has been introduced for the surgical treatment of inflammatory and neoplastic lesions. We report the following data from 15 patients treated surgically for cystic neoplastic lesions of the pancreas head. METHODS: Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection (DPPHRt) with segmental resection of the duodenum (SD) was performed in eight patients, five with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), two with mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN), and one with cystic endocrine neoplasm (EN). In four patients, a subtotal pancreatic head resection was performed, but recurrence of the IPMN lesion was observed in two patients. Ten patients suffered cystadenoma, three patients had a borderline lesion, and two patients had an in-situ carcinoma. RESULTS: Eight patients had a DPPHRt with SD resection, two patients had a resection of the uncinate process including segmental resection of the inferior duodenal segment, and one patient had a duodenum-and spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy. In four patients a DPPHR with subtotal pancreatic head resection was carried out. Postoperative local complications occurred in eight patients: there was a recurrence of the IPMN lesion in the remnant pancreatic head in two patients; and there was intraabdominal bleeding in one patient, pancreatic fistula in one patient, and delay of gastric emptying in four patients. Seven patients showed signs of acute pancreatitis. Hospital mortality was 0%, and postoperative length of hospital stay was 10. 4 days (range, 8-18 days). CONCLUSIONS: Duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection for IPMN, MCN, serous cystadenoma (SCA), and cystic EN lesions is a safe and beneficial surgical procedure. Segmental resection of the duodenum was applied for an oncologically complete resection. In regard to long-term outcome, the procedure is, additionally, a pancreatic cancer preventive strategy.