OBJECTIVETo evaluate the significance of extended radical resection in the treatment of pancreatic head cancer and its indication.

METHODSBetween Jan. 1995 and Dec. 1998, 56 patients with pancreatic head cancer were retrospectively reviewed, among whom 35 were treated by the Whipple operation and 21 received the extended radical resection during the same interval.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the mortality and morbidity rate of complication, though with more patients having higher clinical stages in the extended radical resection group. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 84.8%, 62.8%, 39.9% in the extended radical resection group and 70.8%, 47.6%, 17.2% in the Whipple operation group with significant difference between the two groups. The total mortality rate was 51.4% in Whipple group and 42.9% in extended radical resection group with significant difference between the two. The 3-year cumulative rate of death from local recurrence decreased from 37.4% in the Whipple group to 23.8% in the extended radical operation group. Patients who survived for more than 3 years were only those in clinical stage (SC)1 in the Whipple group whereas they were found both in patients who had had CS1, CS2 lesions and also in some who had CS3 lesions in the extended radical resection group.

CONCLUSIONThe extended radical operation does benefit patients with pancreatic head carcinoma in CS1, CS2 and in a part of CS3 without too extensive exrtra-pancreatic invasion.