10 years' experience treating pancreatic and periampullary cancer

The records of 136 patients with periampullary and pancreatic carcinoma were reviewed and the information compared with other reported series. The clinical presentation with jaundice without other manifestations is associated with the greatest number of potentially curable tumors. The majority of patients were treated by palliative bypass or had exploration and biopsy only. A tissue diagnosis is not imperative before radical excision, providing a systematic preoperative and operative evaluation indicates tumor. Ligation of the pancreatic duct with external drainage results in low morbidity and mortality and good functional results. Radical pancreaticoduodenectomy done in 21 per cent of our patients offers the best palliation and the only hope for cure.