Types of surgery for pancreatic cancer

Sometimes, it is possible to remove all of the cancer with surgery. This is a major operation. It is usually only suitable for people with early-stage pancreatic cancer. In some people, it may cure the cancer.

Only a specialist surgeon who has experience in pancreatic cancer surgery will do this type of operation. You may be referred to a specialist centre for it.

It is important to discuss the benefits and disadvantages with your surgeon before deciding to have surgery. 

We have more information about preparing for surgery, and what to expect after surgery for pancreatic cancer.

The surgeon may remove part or all of the pancreas during the operation. This will depend on where the cancer is and how much of the pancreas it involves.

You may have one of the operations described below.

This operation is similar to a modified Whipple’s procedure (PPPD). But the surgeon will also remove the lower part of the stomach. It is also called a pancreatico-duodenectomy or PD.

The sections in white are parts removed during a Whipple’s operation. These are the gall bladder, the head of the pancreas, and parts of the duodenum, stomach and common bile duct

The surgeon attaches the remaining parts of the stomach, the remaining bile duct, and the tail of the pancreas to the small bowel.

Surgery for pancreatic cancer is usually open surgery, where the surgeon makes one large cut (incision). But in some specialist centres, the surgeons may do keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery.

Instead of one large cut, the surgeon will make several small cuts. They use a special instrument called a laparoscope to see into and work inside the tummy (abdomen).

Keyhole surgery is only suitable for a small number of people, and usually for people having a distal pancreatectomy.

A small number of specialist centres do keyhole surgery using robotic equipment. The camera on the end of the laparoscope gives a three-dimensional (3D) magnified view of the inside of the body. This is shown on a video screen to help guide the surgeon. The surgeon controls instruments attached to the robotic equipment.

The main advantage of keyhole surgery is that it leaves small wounds. This means you usually recover quicker.