Successful pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein for pancreatic endocrine carcinoma

Invasion to the celiac axis and portal vein is one reason for the unresectability of pancreatic carcinoma of the body and tail. Some authors advocate a radical distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein. However, long-term survival is still rare. We report here on a very rare, long-term survivor of a locally-advanced endocrine carcinoma of the body of the pancreas that was treated by distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein. The patient recovered well postoperatively, and has survived for 55 months without evidence of recurrence. The experience gained in the present case suggests that radical pancreatectomy with en-bloc resection of the celiac artery and portal vein is a potential approach that might increase tumor resectability and improve the prognosis of patients with locally-advanced endocrine carcinomas of the pancreas.