Resection of the Uncinate Process of the Pancreas - An Exceptional Alternative to Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Non-Enucleable Benign and Low-Grade MalignantTumors of the Uncinate Process. Surgical Technique, Case Report and Literature Review

Tumors located in the uncinate process of the pancreas are traditionally resected by pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), a surgical procedure that carries high morbidity and non-negligible mortality rates. Thus, for selected cases of benign and low-grade malignant tumors, more conservative pancreatic resections were proposed. Hereby, we describe the technique of resection of the uncinate process of the pancreas (RUP) in a 64-year-old female patient diagnosed with a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor, with an uneventful early postoperative outcome. Furthermore, a comprehensive literature search across databases was conducted to identify papers on the indications and outcomes of RUP. In conclusion, RUP is an exceptional yet feasible and safe alternative to PD for carefully selected patients with non-enucleable benign or low-grade malignant tumors of the uncinate process, eliminating the burden of postoperative mortality and long-term endocrine and exocrine insufficiency associated with PD. However, RUP is a complex surgical procedure that requires precise knowledge of the pancreas anatomy. Considering the limited number of patients reported with RUP, further studies are needed to confirm the real benefits of this challenging technique.