OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors influencing recurrence and metastasis following curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and analyze the prognosis.

METHODSThe clinicopathological and follow-up data of 56 patients who underwent curative resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between Jan. 1997 and Dec. 2006 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe recurrence rate after curative resection was 73.2% (41/56). The recurrence rate after operation at the time of 3 months, half year, 1 year and 2 years was 26.8% (15/56), 51.8% (29/56), 64.3% (36/56) and 69.6% (39/56), respectively. Hepatic metastasis and local recurrence accounted for 36.6% and 31.7% of the cases, respectively. The 3-year accumulated survival of this group was 22.7%. The symptom presenting time, back pain, preoperative level of CA19-9, tumor size, AJCC stage and T stage were correlated with metastasis/recurrence. Univariate analysis revealed that the preoperative level of CA19-9, T stage and the tumor size were prognostic factors. Cox regression analysis revealed that only tumor size was an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONThe metastasis or recurrence mostly occurs within 2 years after curative resection, and the liver is the most common site of metastasis. High recurrence rate is the major reason causing the failure of curative resection and short survival time after operation. The symptom presenting time, back pain, preoperative level of CA19-9, tumor size, AJCC stage and T stage are correlated with metastasis/recurrence. The tumor size is an independent prognostic factor.