Pancreaticoduodenectomy for second periampullary cancer following curative resection of extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: This study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of surgical treatment for metachronous periampullary carcinoma following curative resection of primary extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of seven patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for metachronous periampullary cancer after prior curative surgery for extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

RESULTS

The mean age at the second surgery was 66.7 years (range, 43-81 years). Initial malignancies included three hilar cholangiocarcinomas, one middle bile duct cancer, and three gallbladder cancers. Subsequent primary tumors consisted of three distal bile duct cancers, three pancreatic head cancers, and one duodenal cancer. The mean interval between the first and second cancers was 47 months (range, 13-121 months). No perioperative deaths occurred. Postoperative complications developed in three patients (42.9%): chyle leakage (Clavien-Dindo grade II) in two (28.6%) and a grade C postoperative pancreatic fistula requiring reoperation (grade IIIb) in one (14.3%). Both chyle leaks were managed conservatively. During follow-up, four patients died of recurrence at 5, 12, 19, and 24 months postoperatively. One patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary metastasis 2 months after PD and remains alive 22 months later without recurrence. Two patients are disease-free at 38 and 92 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

PD for second primary periampullary cancer after resection of extrahepatic bile duct cancer appears feasible and potentially effective. Although no perioperative mortality occurred, major complications were observed. Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.