Surgical palliation in patients with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of palliative strategies in patients with pancreatic cancer is the relief of tumor-associated symptoms such as biliary and duodenal obstruction and tumor growth. Due to high mortality and morbidity rates of surgery, treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer is mainly in the hand of gastroenterologists.

RATIONALE: In recent years, surgery of pancreatic cancer in specialized centres developed strongly, which makes it a viable option even in the treatment of advanced disease.

CONCLUSION: We advocate for an aggressive strategy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer with surgical exploration and tumor resection whenever possible.