[Carcinoma of the pancreas: curative operations (author's transl)]

In 1898 the first radical operation for carcinoma of the pancreas was performed by Codivilla in Bologna. Kausch followed in 1913 and Whipple perfected the technique of duodenopancreatectomy. The central position of the pancreas causes technical difficulties. Carcinoma of the head of the pancreas frequently causes icterus, which quite often limits the primary radical operation. Radical removal of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas is only possible if the limits of the organ have not been passed. Preservation of a part of the pancreas is essential for the metabolism. The average primary mortality of the radical operation is around 25 percent, having fallen significantly in the last few years. The 5-years recovery rate is a bare 10 percent.