title: The prognostic influence of resection margin clearance following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The poor overall survival associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) despite complete resection suggests that occult metastatic disease is present in most at the time of surgery. Resection margin involvement (R1) following resection is an established poor prognostic factor. However, the definition of an R1 resection varies and the impact of margin clearance on outcome has not been examined in detail.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort of 217 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for PDAC with curative intent at a single institution between 1996 and 2011, the prognostic significance of the proximity of margin clearance was investigated. Microscopic margin clearance was stratified by 0.5 mm increments from tumor present at the margin to >2.0 mm. Groups were dichotomized into clear and involved groups according to the different R1 definitions. Multivariate survival analysis was used to establish independent prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 38 patients (17.5 %) where the tumor was >1.5 mm from the closest involved margin, there was a significantly prolonged overall median survival (63.1 months; 95 % confidence interval, 32.5-93.8) compared to R1 resections (16.9 months; 95 % confidence interval, 14.5-19.4; P < 0.0001, log-rank test). This cutoff represented the optimum distance for predicting long-term survival. As margin clearance increased, R1 status became a more powerful independent predictor of outcome; however, margin clearance did not relate to site of tumor recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that margin clearance by at least 1.5 mm identifies a subgroup of patients which may potentially achieve long-term survival. This study further confirms the need to achieve standardization across pancreatic specimen reporting. Stratification of patients into future clinical trials based upon the degree of margin clearance may identify those patients likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Pancreatic Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, G31 2ER, UK. nigel.jamieson@glasgow.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nigel B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Nigel I J
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Alan K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Foulis
authors.forename: Euan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: C Ross
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors