Carcinoma of the periampullary region: Who benefits from portal vein resection?

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the periampullary region infiltrating the portal vein is dismal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the morbidity, mortality, and prognosis of pancreatoduodenectomy in 31 patients in whom a tangential excision (n = 9) or a segmental resection (n = 22) of the portal vein or superior mesenteric vein was performed in an attempt to achieve complete tumor removal. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. Tumor infiltration of the resected vein could be documented histopathologically in 19 of the 31 (61.3%) patients. All patients with pancreatic or bile duct carcinoma (n = 29) died within 16 months of the resection (median survival 8 months). In contrast, 2 patients with cystadenocarcinoma and acinous cell carcinoma are alive with no evidence of recurrence at 23 and 54 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Portal vein resection does not prolong survival in patients undergoing partial pancreatoduodenectomy for carcinoma of the pancreas or distal bile duct. Only the occasional patient with a rare tumor at this region may benefit from this approach.