Pancreatic cancer risk following gastric surgery.

To estimate the risk of pancreatic cancer after gastric surgery for benign disease, we followed all 336 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who had surgical treatment for benign peptic ulcer disease during the years 1935 to 1959. These patients were followed for 6549 person-years of observation. Pancreatic cancer developed in only one patient although 1.6 primary pancreatic cancers were expected (relative risk 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.02 to 3.53) based on pancreatic cancer incidence rates for the general population of Olmsted County. We conclude that in our study the incidence of pancreatic cancer is not significantly increased after gastric surgery.