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Optimal lymph-node dissection for pancreatic tail cancer

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Abstract

Purpose

The optimal range of lymph-node dissection for pancreatic tail cancer remains unclear. We investigated the location and frequency of lymph-node metastases to identify the correct range of lymph-node dissection for pancreatic tail cancer.

Methods

We analyzed clinical data retrospectively, on patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for resectable left-sided pancreatic cancer, between February, 2006 and March, 2021. Eligible patients were divided into two groups according to the tumor location: those with pancreatic tail cancer (Pt group) and those with pancreatic body or body and tail cancer (non-Pt group).

Results

Of the 96 patients analyzed, 61 (64%) were assigned to the Pt group and 35 (36%) were assigned to the non-Pt group. Metastases to stations 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, and 18 were found in 0 (0%), 0 (0%), 0 (0%), 4 (7%), 18 (30%), 2 (4%), and 10 (17%) patients in the Pt group, and in 1 (3%), 4 (12%), 2 (6%), 1 (3%), 18 (51%), 3 (9%), and 6 (17%) patients in the non-Pt group, respectively.

Conclusion

Lymph-node dissection at stations 7, 8, and 9 might not be necessary in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer confined to the pancreatic tail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Shingo Seo, Kenichiro Uemura, Tatsuaki Sumiyoshi, Naru Kondo, Kenjiro Okada, Hiroyuki Otsuka & Shinya Takahashi

  2. Digestive Disease Center, Hiroshima Memorial Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan

    Yoshiaki Murakami

Authors
  1. Shingo Seo
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  2. Kenichiro Uemura
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  3. Tatsuaki Sumiyoshi
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  4. Naru Kondo
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  5. Kenjiro Okada
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  6. Hiroyuki Otsuka
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  7. Yoshiaki Murakami
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  8. Shinya Takahashi
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Correspondence to Kenichiro Uemura.

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Seo, S., Uemura, K., Sumiyoshi, T. et al. Optimal lymph-node dissection for pancreatic tail cancer. Surg Today 52, 1307–1312 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-022-02463-1

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