Surgical considerations in diseases of the pancreas.

Present data indicate that surgical treatment of pancreatitis is most successful in cases in which the disease is caused by extrahepatic disease of the biliary tract. Operation is also effective in cases of islet cell tumors, cysts, lithiasis, trauma and annular pancreas. Results seem to justify radical operation for early carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and pancreas. The value of surgical treatment in other lesions of the pancreas is doubtful.