Abstract
Background: To compare imaging features and analyze prognostic differences among different groups with pancreatic head cancer invading the peripheral nerve plexus. Methods: We reviewed preoperative multislice spiral CT (MSCT) images, complete surgical records, and postoperative pathological results of 93 patients with pancreatic head cancer and peripheral nerve invasion. Two radiologists who were unaware of surgical and pathological results evaluated the MSCT images to determine peripheral nerve invasion of pancreatic head cancer. A pathologist who was unaware of the imaging findings grouped the patients based on surgical records and pathological findings. Pancreatic head cancer invasion of the anterior neural pathway was assigned to group A and invasion of pancreatic plexus 1, pancreatic plexus 2, and root of the mesenteric pathway to group B. Both groups were evaluated for peripheral nerve invasion, tumor size, dilatation of the common bile duct/main pancreatic duct, duodenal invasion, and prognosis of pancreatic head cancer.Results: A mass- and strand-like pattern or coarse reticular pattern was frequently observed when two groups of pancreatic head cancer invaded the peripheral nerve plexus. Intergroup differences in tumor size and common bile duct/main pancreatic duct dilatation were insignificant. The duodenal invasion rate was higher in group A than in group B; however, the intergroup difference was insignificant. The prognosis was poorer for group A than for group B.Conclusions: Although the intergroup differences in radiographic findings were not significant, the prognosis was poorer for group A than for group B.
A case report: Curatively resected locally advanced pancreatic head cancer by improvement of extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion with gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy
