Current status of minimally invasive surgery for pancreatic cancer

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most lethal cancer among digestive system cancers. Although the only way to radically cure PC is surgical resection, complex surgical procedures and severe post-operative complications lead to high mortality. In recent years, minimally invasive surgery has become more common for PC. Minimally invasive pancreatic resection (MIPR) with the laparoscopic or robotic method has shown its superiority compared with traditional surgery. However, increasing evidence indicates that the long-term or even short-term outcomes of MIPR for PC patients remain controversial. Moreover, the indications and learning curve of MIPR require further assessment. This review aims to discuss the progress in current MIPR, analyze the specific problems and obstacles in the development of MIPR, and try to standardize MIPR procedures and improve the outcomes of MIPR.