[Prognostically relevant factors in ductal pancreatic cancer]

Prognosis of patients with pancreatic carcinoma is bad. Less than 1% of all patients and even after pancreas resection only 10% survive more than 5 years. To evaluate the factors which influence the prognosis we analyzed retrospectively all patients who were operated on a pancreas cancer (n = 484) from January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1987. Age, sex, perineural invasion and lymphangiosis carcinomatosa had no prognostic influence. The duration of symptoms, degree of cellular differentiation, tumor size, preoperative level of the tumor associated antigen CA-19-9, nodal involvement and stage were statistically significant for prognosis. R1 and R2-resections had no better prognosis than other palliative procedures.