Surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The problems encountered in the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer are outlined on the basis of a review of the literature published in the last 15 years and the authors' experience with 157 patients over the period 1970 to 1977. The overwhelming evidence favors resection as opposed to any palliative procedure. Although the number of patients eligible for 5-year follow-up is small, the data suggest that total pancreatectomy with regional lymphadenectomy may be the most appropriate operation.