Archives of the Balkan Medical Union (Jun 2019)

Does sentinel node biopsy play a role in pancreatic adenocarcinoma?

  • Nicolae BACALBASA,
  • Irina BALESCU,
  • Cristian BALALAU,
  • Mihaela VILCU,
  • Iulian BREZEAN

DOI
https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2019.54.2.18
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 54, no. 2
pp. 334 – 338

Abstract

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Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide which is unfortunately associated with very poor long-term survival. However, it seems that the only option in order to improve the outcomes of these patients remains radical surgery consisting of in block resection of the tumor and the surrounding tissues. When it comes to the extent of the lymph node dissection, a permanent debate still exists between the eastern and the western countries; while the Western countries consider that an extended lymph node dissection increases the postoperative complication worthwhile, the Eastern countries consider that this should be the treatment of choice as long as these tumors usually disseminate on the lymphatic route. In order to establish what patients could benefit most from an extended lymph node dissection, certain authors proposed performing the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique. This is a literature review of the largest studies conducted on this theme.

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