The retropancreatic fusion fascia acts as a barrier against infiltration by pancreatic carcinoma

Kitagawa,Hirohisa; Tajima,Hidehiro; Nakagawara,Hisatoshi; Hayashi,Hironori; Makino,Isamu; Takamura,Hiroyuki; Ninomiya,Itasu; Fushida,Sachio; Kayahara,Masato; Ohta,Tetsuo; Ikeda,Hiroko

doi:10.3892/mco.2013.98

May-June 2013 Volume 1 Issue 3

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May-June 2013 Volume 1 Issue 3

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Article

The retropancreatic fusion fascia acts as a barrier against infiltration by pancreatic carcinoma

Authors:
- Hirohisa Kitagawa
- Hidehiro Tajima
- Hisatoshi Nakagawara
- Hironori Hayashi
- Isamu Makino
- Hiroyuki Takamura
- Itasu Ninomiya
- Sachio Fushida
- Masato Kayahara
- Tetsuo Ohta
- Hiroko Ikeda
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan, Department of Pathology, Division of Cancer Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan
Pages: 418-422
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Published online on: March 20, 2013

https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2013.98
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Abstract

Although pancreatic carcinoma frequently extends posteriorly beyond the pancreatic parenchyma, retroperitoneal organs such as the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the adrenal gland are rarely involved. The fusion fascia lies between the pancreas and these retroperitoneal organs. This study investigated the role of the fusion fascia in the prevention of infiltration of retroperitoneal structures by pancreatic carcinoma. This study was conducted on 140 patients who underwent pancreatic carcinoma resection at our hospital. Retropancreatic infiltration was divided into three grades as follows: Grade 0, carcinoma confined within the pancreatic parenchyma; grade 1, carcinoma infiltrating beyond the parenchyma but within the fusion fascia; and grade 2, infiltration of retroperitoneal tissues beyond the fusion fascia. Grade 0 was found in 24%, grade 1 in 73% and grade 2 in 3% of the cases. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of grade 2 between pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP). Pancreatic carcinoma infiltrated posteriorly beyond the parenchyma in over 70% of our cases; however, grade 2 infiltration was a rare finding and tumor invasion was confined within the fusion fascia in almost all the cases. Thus, the fusion fascia may act as a barrier against retroperitoneal tissue infiltration by pancreatic carcinoma.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

The retropancreatic fusion fascia acts as a barrier against infiltration by pancreatic carcinoma

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