BACKGROUND: Locally advanced cancer of the body of the pancreas with infiltration of the celiac trunk and its branches is often considered an unresectable disease. Distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac trunk was described as a new concept for the curative treatment of these tumors. CASE REPORT: The case of a 61-year-old female patient is reported, who underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and resection of the celiac trunk for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body with infiltration of the celiac trunk. The celiac trunk was embolized preoperatively in order to assure arterial perfusion of the liver. CONCLUSION: Distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac trunk offers a high resectability rate and thus a curative option for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body with vascular invasion. The optimization of patient selection and the development of effective adjuvant chemotherapy could significantly improve the survival of patients subjected to this operation.
BACKGROUND: Locally advanced cancer of the body of the pancreas with infiltration of the celiac trunk and its branches is often considered an unresectable disease. Distal pancreatectomy with resection of the celiac trunk was described as a new concept for the curative treatment of these tumors. CASE REPORT: The case of a 61-year-old female patient is reported, who underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy and resection of the celiac trunk for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body with infiltration of the celiac trunk. The celiac trunk was embolized preoperatively in order to assure arterial perfusion of the liver. CONCLUSION: Distal pancreatectomy with en bloc resection of the celiac trunk offers a high resectability rate and thus a curative option for locally advanced cancer of the pancreatic body with vascular invasion. The optimization of patient selection and the development of effective adjuvant chemotherapy could significantly improve the survival of patients subjected to this operation.