Meta-analysis of the efficacy of pancreatoduodenectomy with extended lymphadenectomy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the efficacy of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with extended lymphadenectomy (PD/ELND) versus standard PD in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, with the hope of providing evidence for clinical practice. METHODS: The retrieval of relevant literature published before September 2012 was carried out on PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) by computer. Information was extracted according to Cochrane systematic review methods, and analyzed using software Stata 11.0. RESULTS: Five prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this meta-analysis of 555 cases (278 in the PD/ELND group and 277 in the standard PD group). The PD/ELND group showed a significantly lower 3-year survival rate (relative risk (RR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 to approximately 2.06, P = 0.034), prolonged operative time (weighted mean difference WMD = −1.03, 95% CI −1.96 to approximately −0.10, P = 0.029) and higher incidence of postoperative complications (RR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to approximately 0.77, P = 0.000) by comparing with standard PD group. Besides, no significant difference was observed in the 1-year survival rate (RR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.60 to approximately 1.25, P = 0.69), 5-year survival rate (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.68 to approximately 1.58, P = 0.854), postoperative mortality (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.43 to approximately 3.00, P = 0.789), length of stay (WMD = −0.32, 95% CI −2.57 to approximately 1.94 , P = 0.784) and the amount of blood transfusions (WMD = −0.14, 95% CI −0.36 to approximately 0.08, P = 0.213). CONCLUSIONS: PD/ELND does not have an advantage over standard PD in the survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer, but does increase operative time and incidences of postoperative complications.