Surgical treatment of benign and borderline neoplasms of the pancreatic body

Background: Conventional operations for benign and borderline tumors of the pancreatic body are distal pancreatectomy and enucleation. An unusual operation allowing the preservation of the proximal and distal pancreas is median pancreatectomy. Method: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 67 patients with nonmalignant neoplasms of the pancreatic body was performed. The operations were: 32 median pancreatectomies ( 22 with duct occlusion of the distal pancreas, 10 with pancreaticojejunostomy), 21 distal pancreatectomies, and 14 enucleations. The operative and long-term outcomes of the different operations were compared. Results: Enucleation had a shorter operative time and less blood loss than the other operations. No mortality was observed. The pancreatic fistula rate was 50% after median pancreatectomy (59% in case of distal duct occlusion, 30% in case of pancreaticojejunostomy), 14% after distal pancreatectomy and 14% after enucleation. Diabetes appeared in 3 patients after distal pancreatectomy and 3 patients after median pancreatectomy with duct occlusion. Conclusions: When indicated, enucleation is the operation of choice for a nonmalignant neoplasm of the pancreatic body. With respect to distal resection, the higher fistula rate of median pancreatectomy with pancreaticojejunostomy could be the price for a better long-term endocrine function; median pancreatectomy with duct occlusion had worse operative results and no long-term advantages. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.