Laparoscopy and Pancreatic Cancer

Even technically complex, laparoscopy for resection of pancreatic tumors was gradually used for minor and major resection. In reason of equivalent or better perioperative outcomes and non-inferior cost effectiveness, laparoscopy has gained acceptance from specialized surgeons. First indications for laparoscopic surgery of the pancreas were benign or low-degree malignant tumors. Since a decade, some surgical teams have extended indications to high-degree malignant lesions. After a brief history about the development of laparoscopic pancreatic surgery and a reminder of the oncological quality criteria applied to pancreas, this review aimed to discuss controversial indications of laparoscopy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on a report of early and long term oncological results.