A retrospective, multicentric, nationwide analysis of the impact of splenectomy on survival of pancreatic cancer patients.

Objective: Splenectomy is regularly performed in total and distal pancreatectomy due to technical reasons, lymph node dissection and radicality of the operation. However, the spleen serves as an important organ for competent immune function, and its removal is associated with an increased incidence of cancer and a worse outcome in some cancer entities (Haematologica 99:392-398, 2014; Dis Colon Rectum 51:213-217, 2008; Dis Esophagus 21:334-339, 2008). The impact of splenectomy in pancreatic cancer is not fully resolved (J Am Coll Surg 188:516-521, 1999; J Surg Oncol 119:784-793, 2019).

Correlation of intratumoral mast cell quantity with psychosocial distress in patients with pancreatic cancer: the PancStress study.

Mast cells are commonly found in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), yet their role in the disease remains uncertain. Although mast cells have been associated with depression in several diseases, their connection to PDAC in this context remains unclear. This study explored the correlation between mast cells and psychosocial stress in patients with PDAC.

Arterial Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: Feasibility and Current Standing in a High-Volume Center.

Background: Arterial resection (AR) during pancreatectomy for curative R0 resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a controversial procedure with high morbidity.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and oncological outcomes of pancreatectomy combined with AR at a high-volume center for pancreatic surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed our experience in PDAC patients, who underwent pancreatic resection with AR and/or venous resection (VR) between 2007 and 2021.

Continuous irrigation after pancreatectomy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Prevention and management of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreatic resections is still an unresolved issue. Continuous irrigation of the peripancreatic area is frequently used to treat necrotizing pancreatitis, but its use after elective pancreatic surgery is not well-known. With this systematic review, we sought to evaluate the current knowledge and expertise regarding the use of continuous irrigation in the surgical area to prevent or treat POPF after elective pancreatic resections.

Bacterial content of the human pancreatic duct: An observational study.

Background: Pancreatic fistula/PF is a challenging surgical complication. We could recently show that intestinal bacteria such as colonize the PF fluid even after a "sterile" operation like distal pancreatectomy/DP. Therefore, we explored the bacterial flora of the human pancreatic duct in a patient collective undergoing pancreatic surgery.

[Resection Strategies in BD-IPMN - Enucleation or Standard Resection?].

Background: The malignant potential and the surgical management of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) remain controversial. Enucleation (EN), as parenchyma-sparing resections of the pancreas, may be a valuable alternative to standard resections (SR), e.g.

Drain use in pancreatic surgery: Results from an international survey among experts in the field.

Background: Drain use in pancreatic surgery remains controversial. This survey sought to evaluate habits, experiences, and opinions of experts in the field on the use of drains to provide interesting insights for pancreatic surgeons worldwide.

Methods: An online survey designed via Google Forms was sent in December 2020 to experienced surgeons of the International Study Group for Pancreatic Surgery.

The Effect of Celiac Neurolysis and Splanchnicectomy on Survival in Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Intractable pancreatic pain is one of the most common symptoms of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Celiac neurolysis (CN) and splanchnicectomy were already described as effective methods to manage abdominal pain in unresectable PDAC, but their impact on overall survival (OS) has not yet been established.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of CN and splanchnicectomy on the survival of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Oncology in Europe: Results of a European Survey.

Background: The first COVID-19 pandemic wave hit most of the health-care systems worldwide. The present survey aimed to provide a European overview on the COVID-19 impact on surgical oncology.

Methods: This anonymous online survey was accessible from April 24 to May 11, 2020, for surgeons (n = 298) who were contacted by the surgical society European Digestive Surgery.

Effective operating room (OR) utilization by performing low-complex surgical procedures during the 2020 corona pandemic.

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has almost stopped all elective surgical treatment throughout the world. As operating room (OR) capacities are reduced everywhere to ensure availability of intensive care capacities, especially low-complex surgical procedures are often postponed. These include totally implantable central-venous access ports which are important for the oncologic treatment of cancer patients.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Perspective from Central Europe.

Background: This survey aimed to register changes determined by the COVID-19 pandemic on pancreatic surgery in a specific geographic area (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) to evaluate the impact of the pandemic and obtain interesting cues for the future.

Methods: An online survey was designed using Google Forms focusing on the local impact of the pandemic on pancreatic surgery. The survey was conducted at 2 different time points, during and after the lockdown.

Implications of Perineural Invasion on Disease Recurrence and Survival After Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Head Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Objective: To describe PNI and to evaluate its impact on disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Summary Of Background Data: Although PNI is a prognostic factor for survival in many GI cancers, there is limited knowledge regarding its impact on tumor recurrence, especially in ''early stage disease'' (PDAC ≤20 mm, R0/ N0 PDAC).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included patients undergoing PDAC resection between 2009 and 2014.

Diabetes mellitus in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Our current knowledge of diabetes mellitus in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm is very limited and its prevalence and predictive value for malignant transformation are not clear. This study sought to systematically review the literature to define the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and to evaluate the association of diabetes mellitus with the progression to high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer.

Methods: A PubMed/Medline systematic search was performed to identify studies reporting data on preoperative diabetes mellitus in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

[Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on surgery - a national cross-sectional study].

Background And Aims: From the beginning of the SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic the German healthcare system focused on the treatment of COVID-19 patients. This was accompanied by the suspension of all elective operations. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic on general and visceral surgery in university hospitals in Germany.

Timing But Not Patterns of Recurrence Is Different Between Node-negative and Node-positive Resected Pancreatic Cancer.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate recurrence patterns of surgically resected PDAC patients with negative (pN0) or positive (pN1) lymph nodes.

Summary Background Data: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer death by 2030. This is mostly due to early local and distant metastasis, even after surgical resection.

Diabetes and Weight Loss Are Associated With Malignancies in Patients With Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms.

Background & Aims: The role of diabetes in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) is not known. We investigated the prevalence of diabetes among patients with resected IPMNs and the association between diabetes, clinical and morphological features, and high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer.

Methods: We collected clinical, pathology, laboratory, and demographic data from 134 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for IPMN from a referral center in Germany.

Reappraisal of a 2-Cm Cut-off Size for the Management of Cystic Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Multicenter International Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize an international cohort of resected cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (cPanNENs) and identify preoperative predictors of aggressive behavior.

Background: The characteristics of cPanNENs are unknown and their clinical management remains unclear. An observational strategy for asymptomatic cPanNENs ≤2 cm has been proposed by recent guidelines, but evidence is scarce and limited to single-institutional series.

Cross Validation of the Monoclonal Antibody Das-1 in Identification of High-Risk Mucinous Pancreatic Cystic Lesions.

Background & Aims: Although pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are frequently and incidentally detected, it is a challenge to determine their risk of malignancy. In immunohistochemical and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses of tissue and cyst fluid from pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, the monoclonal antibody Das-1 identifies those at risk for malignancy with high levels of specificity and sensitivity. We aimed to validate the ability of Das-1 to identify high-risk PCLs in comparison to clinical guidelines and clinical features, using samples from a multicenter cohort.

Correction: Long-term follow-up of low-risk branchduct IPMNs of the pancreas: is main pancreatic duct dilatation the most worrisome feature?

In the HTML version of this paper Pietro Magnoni was incorrectly tagged as the corresponding author. The corresponding author should have been Maria Chiara Petrone. This has now been corrected in the HTML version of the paper.

Long-term follow-up of low-risk branch-duct IPMNs of the pancreas: is main pancreatic duct dilatation the most worrisome feature?

Objectives: The management of branch-duct IPMN remains controversial due to the relatively low rate of malignant degeneration and the uncertain predictive role of high-risk stigmata (HRS) and worrisome features (WFs) identified by the 2012 International Consensus Guidelines. Our aim was to evaluate the evolution of originally low-risk (Fukuoka-negative) BD-IPMNs during a long follow-up period in order to determine whether the appearance of any clinical or morphological variables may be independently associated with the development of malignancy over time.

Methods: A prospectively collected database of all patients with BD-IPMN referring to our Institute between 2002 and 2016 was retrospectively analyzed.

Predictors of Resectability and Survival in Patients With Borderline and Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer who Underwent Neoadjuvant Treatment With FOLFIRINOX.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine (1) whether preoperative factors can predict resectability of borderline resectable (BR) and locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX, (2) which patients might benefit from adjuvant therapy, and (3) survival differences between resected BR/LA patients who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and upfront resected patients.

Background: Patients with BR/LA PDAC are often treated with FOLFIRINOX to obtain a margin-negative resection, yet selection of patients for resection remains challenging.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data of PDAC patients surgically explored between 04/2011-11/2016 in a single institution were retrospectively collected.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic role of splenic vessels infiltration in resectable pancreatic cancer.

Background: Identification of factors associated with dismal survival after surgery in resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is important to select patients for neoadjuvant treatment. The present meta-analysis aimed to compare the results of distal pancreatectomy for resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic body-tail with and without splenic vessels infiltration.

Methods: A systematic search was performed of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.