[The historical development of resection surgery in pancreatic carcinoma]

Based on the pitfalls of the past the development of pancreatic resection therapy is outlined, starting with the first distal pancreatic resection in 1882 performed by Trendelenburg. Giving details of operations from the first decades of this century the Whipple operation is described as the early cornerstone in the history of radical therapy of pancreatic cancer. Summarizing the disappointments of the seventies gives the clue to the present situation with a modified Whipple operation as the standard curative approach to pancreatic carcinoma today. Additionally, various aspects of palliative therapy for pancreatic carcinoma are discussed.