Background: Definite treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is surgical resection. Absence of early symptoms in most patients leads to late diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to evaluate resectability of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma at the time of the diagnosis in Iran.

Materials and methods: The present study which is of a descriptive, prospective and case series nature, has been studying the resectability of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma by multi-detector computerized tomography, endoscopic ultrasonography, laparoscopy and/or laparotomy in 157 patients for the duration of 2 years since November 2009.

Results: A total of 157 patients were enrolled in this study. Majority of them (68%) were male. The mean age was 67 years. Final diagnosis obtained 1-12 (2.7 ± 1.6) months after beginning of the symptoms. The lesion situated in the head of the pancreas in 127 cases (81%). Vascular invasion, lymphadenopathy, liver metastasis and peritoneal involvement were seen in 88%, 57%, 43% and 19% of the patients, respectively. According to imaging, tumor was resectable in 10 (6%) patients but laparoscopy and/or laparotomy revealed that only five cases (3%) were actually resectable. After 24 months, only 8 patients were alive; 5 cases of them had been treated by Whipple surgery and other 3 cases were under the chemotherapy. At 1 and 2 year survival rate of the patients was 11% and 5%, respectively.

Conclusion: Majority (97%) of the pancreatic adenocarcinomas are unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Thus, meticulous preoperative assessment of patients is essential in patients to avoid major surgery in unresectable cases.