Small carcinoma of the pancreas. Factors of prognostic relevance

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Abstract
Tumor size seems to be one of the primary prognostic factors that influence outcome in pancreatic cancer patients. This finding is reflected in both the Japanese and the International Union against Cancer (UICC) staging systems, in which T categories have a major influence on stage grouping. To investigate whether small tumor size is a prognostic indicator in patients with pancreatic carcinoma, we evaluated (in a prospective study) patients with a small pancreatic cancer, categorized as T1a (P < 0.05). Of prognostic relevance was lymph node metastasis, and retroperitoneal and serosal involvement and these patients had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate than those without such involvement regardless of tumor size (P < 0.01). Conclusions: An overall 5-year survival rate of 46% is exceptionally good. Unfortunately, among pancreatic cancer patients those with a small carcinoma represent a highly selected group, representing less than 5% in our series. Interestingly tumor size is of less prognostic relevance than lymph node, retroperitoneal, and serosal involvement. Radical resection with extensive soft tissue clearance therefore seems essential to achieve such a high survival rate.

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