Palliative surgery for pancreatic head malignancies

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease that destroys both, the patients quality and quantity of life. At least 80% of patients with pancreatic cancer present with either locally advanced or metastatic disease, which is unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Palliation in these patients is focused on relief of symptoms such as obstructive jaundice, duodenal obstruction and pain. There is no evidence for the need of preventive palliation in patients with no need of any palliation at the time of the surgical exploration. Our aim was to review our own data of pancreatic head malignancy surgeries, and to compare…