PANCREAS NEWS Pancreatic Cancer: The Effect of Specialization and New Medical Treatment

Within the past decade, many studies of patients having pancreatic cancer have shown a reduced post-operative morbidity and mortality rate as well as longer survival when treated in specialist regional Centres. A significant reduction in post-operative mortality rates in high- versus low-volume hospitals was observed both in the USA [1] and in Europe [2]. In-hospital mortality rates range from 14 to 28 % in Centres with 1 to 5 major pancreatic resections per year whereas a percentage ranging from 2 to 6 % is reported in Centres treating more than 15 patients per year. The effect of pancreatic cancer resection volume on postoperative mortality has n