Long-term results and prognostic factors in resected pancreatic body and tail adenocarcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas are more often than not inoperable to begin with. Factors predicting the prognosis in the resected tumors of pancreatic body and tail were analyzed.


METHODS
Between 1989 and 2006, 43 patients with adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas underwent resection at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Univariate and multivariate analysis of clinicopathological factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed.


RESULTS
Totally, 32 patients were available for the analysis. The median follow-up was 13.6 months (1.5-87.5 months). The median survival time was 14.2 months and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 58.1, 25.8, and 6.5 %, respectively. On univariate analysis, the factors which influenced the survival were tumor size >4 cm (p=0.004), lymphatic invasion (p=0.001), and positive resection margin (p=0.030). On multivariate analysis, only the tumor size and the lymphatic invasion were independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Even after macroscopic curative resection, the prognosis remains poor for pancreatic body and tail adenocarcinoma. Early diagnosis is the key to achieving long-term survival. Newer effective adjuvant treatment after curative resection is needed to improve the survival.
Department of General Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 5-Fu-Hsin road, Kwei-shan, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan. rohanvinayak28@gmail.com
Vinayak S
VS
Rohan
Jun-Te
JT
Hsu
Keng-Hao
KH
Liu
Chun-Nan
CN
Yeh
Ta-Sen
TS
Yeh
Yi-Yin
YY
Jan
Tsann-Long
TL
Hwang
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome