Surgical treatment for carcinoma of the pancreas. Experience in 272 patients

We have reviewed the prognoses in 272 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas who were treated in our department during a 25 year period. Thirty-eight patients with carcinoma of the head of the pancreas (22.1 percent) and 7 patients with carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas underwent tumor resection. The 5 year survival rate was 8.1 percent for patients who had resection of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas. The postoperative survival period varied greatly with the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis and pancreatic capsular invasion. There were patients with small pancreatic tumors of 2 cm or less who already had lymph node and vessel metastases. Early lymphatic and hematogenous metastases were the characteristic modes of progression of carcinoma of the pancreas. Combined therapeutic modalities are essential for treatment.