Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas and pancreatic head resection with second-portion duodenectomy for benign lesions, low-grade malignancies, and early carcinoma involving the periampullary region.

Hypothesis: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (DPRHP) and pancreas head resection with segmental duodenectomy (PHRSD) can be alternatives to standard pancreaticoduodenectomy for benign periampullary lesions.

Design: Retrospective analysis of patients requiring surgery for benign and borderline malignant tumors of the periampullary region.

Setting: Tertiary care referral center.

Patients: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas (n = 8) and PHRSD (n = 7) were performed in 15 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of benign and borderline malignant tumors of the periampullary region (ie, 11 pancreas head lesions [2 intraductal papillary mucinous tumors, 4 serous cystadenomas, 2 insulinomas, 1 epidermal cyst, 1 metastatic renal cell carcinoma, 1 nonfunctioning islet cell tumor/parapaillary] and 4 duodenal lesions [3 adenomas and 1 adenocarcinoma]).

Main Outcome Measures: Surgical factors (operation time and blood loss), postoperative complication, postoperative pancreatic insufficiency (eg, development of diabetes mellitus and steatorrhea or elevated stool elastase values), weight change, and recurrence of disease.

Results: No differences were noted in the mean operation time and estimated blood loss between the 2 procedures. Major postoperative complication constituted the following: bile duct stricture (n = 1) in DPRHP and delayed gastric emptying (n = 1) and postoperative bleeding (n = 1) in PHRSD. Newly developed diabetes mellitus occurred in 1 patient. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (steatorrhea) was observed in 1 patient after PHRSD. Patients with early duodenal carcinoma and intraductal papillary mucinous tumors with a borderline malignancy are still alive without evidence of recurrence. There was no hospital or long-term mortality.

Conclusions: Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas is recommended first for a benign or low-grade, early malignant pancreatic head lesion; PHRSD can be an option for a lesion of the ampullary-parapapillary duodenal area as well as the pancreatic head. Duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas can be converted to PHRSD if ischemia of the second portion of the duodenum occurs. We found benign periampullary lesions could be conservatively treated with DPRHP and PHRSD, which could substitute for classic pancreaticoduodenectomy.