Ex Vivo Resection and Autotransplantation for Pancreatic Neoplasms

There are several low-grade pancreatic tumors whose biology permits the use of aggressive surgery to achieve a curative resection. Tumors that are deemed unresectable by conventional techniques due to mesenteric vessel involvement may benefit from ex vivo tumor resection and autotransplantation to allow complete resection while minimizing ischemic organ injury. Despite the excellent oncologic outcomes when used for these neoplasms, the procedure carries substantial morbidity and a high complication rate. But for patients who were otherwise offered total enterectomy and allotransplantation or told that their tumor was unresectable, ex vivo resection may offer them a hope for cure.