Operations
The operation is determined by disease location and biology. Common major resections include pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) for lesions in the pancreatic head and distal pancreatectomy for lesions in the body or tail. Total pancreatectomy is reserved for selected indications.
Resectability and treatment sequencing
For pancreatic cancer, the question is not only whether an operation is technically possible. Vascular involvement, metastatic staging, tumour biology, fitness and the role of systemic therapy all influence whether and when surgery should be performed.1,2
Approximate annual activity
>30 major pancreatic resections per year. This is an estimate of current annual clinical practice and varies from year to year.
References & clinical guidance
- National Cancer Institute — Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (PDQ), patient version
- National Cancer Institute — Pancreatic Cancer Treatment (PDQ), health professional version
Clinical content on this page is original patient-facing writing informed by the cited sources; it is not reproduced from them.
This information is educational and does not replace individual medical assessment. Diagnosis and treatment recommendations depend on the patient, imaging, pathology, disease stage and multidisciplinary assessment.