Carcinoma of the Body and Tail of the Pancreas

In contrast to cancers of the head of the pancreas (jaundice), cancers of the pancreatic body and tail do not have heralding signs. The principal clinical features are pain and weight loss. Although the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer carries a grave prognosis, it is not a uniformly fatal disease, even when located in the body and tail. Resection offers the best chance for cure; resectability can be determined preoperatively using CT and laparoscopy. Metastatic disease to the liver, peritoneal surfaces, and omentum and peritoneal washings are contraindications to pancreatectomy. For localized unresectable disease, symptoms can be palliated and survival prolonged with combined irradiation (external beam or intraoperative) and chemotherapy.