Surgical treatment for uncinate process carcinoma of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the clinical features of uncinate process carcinoma of the pancreas and to improve the resection rate.

METHODS

From January 1990 to June 1999, 10 patients with pancreas uncinate process carcinoma received Whipple's operation. Portal vein (PV) resection and reanastomosis were performed in 5 patients, and the resected length varied from 2.0 to 4.2 cm. Two patients underwent PV lateral wall partial resection.

RESULTS

Among the 7 patients undergoing PV resection, 1 died of hepatic failure 3 days after operation. One patient suffered from postoperative chylous ascites. These 6 patients survived 13 to 29 months postoperatively. Among the 3 patients without PV resection, 2 survived 13 months and 14 months respectively. One patient was alive by the end of follow-up for 11.5 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Although uncinate process carcinoma of the pancreas has a tendency to invade the adjacent PV and superior mesentery vein, it should not be simply regarded as a contraindication of radical resection.