SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF CANCER OF THE EXOC RINE PANCREAS - ASSOCIATION-FRANCAISE-DE-CHIRURGIE SURVEY

In a French national enquiry, 3761 cases of cancer of the exocrine pan creas operated between 1982 and 1989 were collected. The aim of the pa rt of the enquiry presented in this study was to define the various su rgical attitudes. Surgical techniques significantly differed from one department to an another (P < 0.001). Resections were performed in 21 per cent of cases (range 6-45 per cent). Causes of unresectability, ch oice of a biliary by-pass, indications for gastro-jejunostomy, and use of spanchnicectomy varied from one Surgical Department to another (P < 0.001). The magnitude of these differences can be explained only by different habits or skilfulness for a rarely curable disease. These fi ndings would justify a consensus about the indications for various pro cedures in the treatment of cancer of the exocrine pancreas.