Extended lymphadenectomy based on the TRIANGLE for pancreatic head cancer: a single-center experience

Background This study was to compare the safety and efficacy of different lymphadenectomy methods in patients with pancreatic head cancer undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Material and methods A total of 150 patients were included in this study. Patients were divided into Group A ( n = 79), Group B ( n = 44), and Group C ( n = 27) according to the different lymphadenectomy methods. The clinical endpoint was time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). Postoperative complications of different lymphadenectomy methods were compared respectively. TTP and OS of the three groups were compared by Kaplan–Meier curves. Results There were no significant differences between the three groups in operative time ( P = 0.300), death in the hospital ( P = 0.253), postoperative hemorrhage ( P = 0.863), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) B/C ( P = 0.306), bile leakage ( P = 0.215), intestinal fistula ( P = 0.177), lymphatic leakage ( P = 0.267), delayed gastric emptying [(DGE) ( P = 0.283)], ICU stay ( P = 0.506), and postoperative hospital stay [(PHS) ( P = 0.810)]. Median TTP in Groups B and C was significantly longer than in Group A (log-rank test, A vs B: P = 0.0005, A vs C: P = 0.0001). Median OS between the three groups has no statistical difference ( P = 0.1546). Conclusions Extended lymphadenectomy methods based on the TRIANGLE do not increase perioperative complications significantly and can effectively delay tumor progression in patients with pancreatic head cancer.