Central pancreatectomy for benign tumors of the neck and body of the pancreas: Report of eight cases

Abstract

To discuss the advantage of central pancreatectomy in the patients with benign tumors of the neck and body of the pancreas. Eight patients from January 1990 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital. The operation is carried out by exposition of the pancreatic neck and body involved by the lesion. Thereafter, the lesion is dissected from the spleen artery and porto-mesenteric vein. The cephalic stump is sutured, and the distal stump is anastomosed by an end-to-end invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy with double-layer suture. Central pancreatectomy was done in eight patients including five mucinous cystadenomas, one serious cystadenoma, one insulinoma and one nonfunctional islet cell tumor. No mortality rate developed and morbidity rate was 37.5%. Pancreatic fistula occurred in three cases and was treated conservatively. Central pancreatectomy is a safe technique for benign tumors of the pancreatic neck and body, especially when the enucleation is very difficult.