Impact of margin status on survival following pancreatoduodenectomy for cancer: the Leeds Pathology Protocol (LEEPP).
BACKGROUND
In a previous study we reported an 85% R1 rate for pancreatic cancer following the use of the rigorous, fully standardized Leeds Pathology Protocol (LEEPP). As this significantly exceeded R1 rates observed by others, we investigated the reproducibility of margin assessment using the LEEPP in a larger, prospective, observational cohort study and correlated clinicopathological data with survival.


METHODS
Clinicopathological features, including exact site and multifocality of margin involvement, and survival were collated from a prospective series of 83 pancreatoduodenectomies for pancreatic (n = 27), ampullary (n = 24) and bile duct cancer (n = 32). Data were compared with those of the previous study in which the same pathology protocol, based on axial slicing and extensive tissue sampling from the circumferential margin, had been used.


RESULTS
The R1 rate was high in pancreatic (82%) and bile duct (72%) cancer and significantly lower in ampullary cancer (25%). Margin positivity was often multifocal, the posterior margin being most frequently involved. Margin status correlated with survival in the entire cohort (P = 0.006) and the pancreatic subgroup (P = 0.046). These findings were consistent with observations in our previous study.


CONCLUSIONS
Margin involvement in pancreatic cancer is a frequent and prognostically significant finding when specimens are assessed using the LEEPP.
Menon
Krishna V
KV
Department of Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Gomez
Dhanwant
D
Smith
Andrew M
AM
Anthoney
Alan
A
Verbeke
Caroline S
CS