Pancreaticoduodenectomy for suspected periampullary cancers: the mimes of malignancy.
BACKGROUND
Pancreaticoduodenectomies are often undertaken with suspicion of malignancy. We undertook this study to determine if and how unnecessary pancreaticoduodenectomies can be avoided.


METHODS
Data from patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were prospectively collected. Operative indications, including presenting symptoms and results with imaging, with or without biopsy, were reviewed.


RESULTS
From 1996 through to 2007, 551 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy at our institution. Chronic pancreatitis was the operative indication in 3% of patients; premalignant/malignant lesions were present in 86% of patients. Eleven per cent of patients underwent 'unnecessary' pancreaticoduodenectomies with presumptive diagnoses of cancer but were without premalignant/malignant disease on final report by Pathology [pancreatitis in 63%, serous cystadenomas (<4 cm) in 14%]. Of the unnecessary resections, 20% had histories and imaging sufficient to diagnose pancreatitis, 18% had inaccurate preoperative brushings/biopsies 'documenting' cancer, 11% had clear misinterpretations of their imaging studies and 7% had inadequate preoperative evaluations. However, 45% had signs/symptoms of cancer with a pancreatic head mass/biliary stricture.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a small minority of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for suspicion of periampullary cancer do so unnecessarily. Preoperative review of biopsies, better considerations of pancreatitis and careful evaluation of imaging, particularly for cystic masses, will decrease unnecessary pancreaticoduodenectomies.
Hernandez
Jonathan
J
Department of Surgery, University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital Center for Digestive Disorders Tampa, FL, USA.
Morton
Connor
C
Clark
Whalen
W
Mullinax
John
J
Mathur
Abishek
A
Marcadis
Andrea
A
Babel
Nitin
N
Ross
Sharona
S
Goldin
Steven
S
Rosemurgy
Alexander
A