The analysis of resectability and survival in pancreatic cancer patients with vascular invasion

One of the major limitations of curative resection in patients with pancrea tic cancer is local tumor extension to the mesenteric vessels. Thus, the pu rposes of our study were to assess the clinical value of contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) in predicting the resectability and surviva l of patients with pancreatic cancer with suspicious vascular invasion anti to assess the influence of curative resection on the survival of these pat ients. We enrolled -1 D patients with pancreatic cancer who were suspected of having an involvement of the adjacent large vessels and who subsequently underwent operation with curative intent in the study. Resectability and s urvival were correlated with CT findings such as segment length, degree of encasement, and type and number of vessels involved. The survival rate was compared between the curative and palliative resection groups, and survival rate was compared between the resected and unresected groups. Of the 40 pa tients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, 14 had curative resections and 26 had palliative resections, The probability of curative resection was hig her in patients with segment lengths less than 2 cm, as compared with segme nt lengths more than 2 cm. However, there was no difference in survival bet ween the two groups. There were no differences in resectability and surviva l according to the degree of encasement and type and number of vessels invo lved. There was no difference in survival between the curative and palliati ve resection groups. There was no difference in survival between the resect ed and unresected groups. A survival benefit was not achieved by curative r esection in patients with pancreatic cancer with vascular invasion. Therefo re, it would be better to avoid aggressive surgery in patients with pancrea tic cancer with vascular invasion.