Lymph node involvement as a prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer.

The finding of metastatic disease in lymph nodes predicts a poor outcome for patients with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas. Nodal metastases occur in as many as one-half of the patients who currently undergo resection with small tumors (less than 2 cm in diameter). There is some evidence that a more extensive lymphatic and soft tissue resection than is commonly done could prolong survival. This possibility should be tested in a prospectively designed study.