Results of Combined Gastrectomy and Pancreatic Resection in Patients with Advanced Primary Gastric Carcinoma

Abstract

Pancreatic invasion in patients with gastric carcinoma is often associated with positive lymph nodes and liver metastases or peritoneal carcinomatosis. Intraoperatively, true pancreas invasion is difficult to differentiate from inflammatory reactions. Postoperative morbidity and mortality are increased by pancreatic resection, mainly due to pancreatitis or peripancreatic abscess. Curative (R0) resection improves prognosis and even long-term survival can be achieved in selected individual cases. Palliative resections can be performed for local complications like bleeding or obstruction refractory to other therapies.