Thromboembolic Risks in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Review of Anatomical and Clinical Variations

This review article presents the anatomical and clinical variations in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) arising from the head and body/tail regions. It discusses the distinctive risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) formation and assesses various parameters for monitoring VTE and intervention strategies. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is typically performed for tumors in the head region of the pancreas, while distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy is performed for tumors arising from the body or tail of the pancreas. This article also reviews the stratified analysis of VTE risks in PDAC based on tumor origin, aiming to establish valuable VTE risk factor assessment tools and prophylactic anticoagulation strategies. Furthermore, it focuses on PDAC patients with tumors arising from distinct pancreatic anatomical locations to improve quality of life, reduce thrombotic risks, and optimize clinical outcomes.