Appraisal of a total meso-pancreatoduodenum excision with pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head carcinoma

Abstract Background The most significant prognostic factors for pancreatic head carcinoma (PHC) with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) are the resection margin and lymph node status. The curative surgical margin (R0) and complete clearance of regional lymph nodes contribute to the improvement of survival. To reduce microscopic residual tumor resection (R1) and achieve a complete lymphadenectomy around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) when performing a PD for PHC, we propose a new concept of a total excision of the “meso-pancreatoduodenum.” which consists of a cluster of the soft connective tissue along the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery and the first jejunal artery. Methods A total of 39 consecutive patients underwent a PD for PHC between May 2006 and August 2011 at Shimane University Hospital. Twenty-five patients received a standard PD (sPD), while 14 cases underwent a total meso-pancreatoduodenum excision (tMPDe) with PD. Results The tMPDe procedure was performed safely without any intraoperative complications. The total number of lymph nodes dissected was 18 (median, range: 5–40) in the sPD and 26 (median, range: 13–50) in the tMPDe ( p  = 0.027). R0 resection was accomplished in 60% and 93% of patients with the sPD and tMPDe, respectively, resulting in a significant decrease in the R1 rate in the tMPDe (7%) compared to that in the sPD (40%) ( p  = 0.019). No loco-regional recurrence was found around the SMA in the tMPDe patients. Conclusion Our surgical technique, tMPDe, is safe and more radical when performing a PD and should be adopted when performing pancreatic surgery as a pathological cure for pancreatic head carcinoma.