title: [Lymph node resection for carcinoma of the pancreas].
abstract: Several factors argue for extended lymphadenectomy in surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: 1) lymph node extension is an adverse prognostic factor; 2) some tumor recurrences are only loco-regional suggesting that initial resection was insufficient; 3) some retrospective studies suggest that extension of lymphadenectomy improves post-resection survival. Extended lymphadenectomy, including circumferential dissection of both the celiac axis and the superior mesenteric artery and resection of para-aortic nodes, was evaluated by 4 randomized trials; globally there was no survival benefit. Extended lymphadenectomy increases, at least transiently, the risk of post-operative diarrhea. Its influence on the rate of loco-regional recurrences has not been evaluated. However, this technique should not be definitively and globally precluded since a more radical resection was associated with a trend toward better long-term survival in the trial with the largest number of patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie hépatobiliaire et pancréatique, AP-HP, hôpital Beaujon, université Paris VII, 100 boulevard Général-Leclerc, 92110 Clichy. alain.sauvanet@bjn.aphp.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauvanet
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome