Prognostic indicators for survival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Discussion

From October 1983 to October 1990, 799 patients with the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and their records were entered into a prospective database. Curative resection was possible in 146 patients (18%), with a 30-day operative mortality of 3.4%. Median follow-up of survivors in the resection group was 28 months. Actuarial 5-year survival in patients who did not undergo resection was 0% (n=653), compared with 24% in the patients who had resection (p<0.00001)