ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE DUODENUM - FACTORS INFLUENCING SURVIVAL

The records of 66 patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma o f the duodenum were reviewed retrospectively to determine factors infl uencing survival. The parameters studied were age, sex, weight loss, j aundice, anaemia, duodenal stenosis, type of surgical procedure, tumou r size and location, depth of parietal invasion, presence and location of lymph node metastases, and pancreatic invasion. These factors were assessed in a group of 46 patients who underwent curative resection o f the tumour; 20 patients who received palliative procedures were excl uded from statistical analysis. Survival curves were established by th e Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Mantel-Haentszel test. The a ctuarial 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients undergoing curative resection were 59 and 45 per cent respectively. None of the prognostic factors studied influenced survival. These results indicate that rese ction of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum should be performed whenever p ossible, even in the presence of lymph node metastasis and pancreatic spread.