Pancreatic Cancer Surgery in West Delhi

The Whipple procedure, also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, may be performed for selected pancreatic tumours located in the head of the pancreas. Depending on the individual case, it can involve removal of the affected part of the pancreas along with nearby structures such as part of the small intestine, gallbladder, and bile duct, with reconstruction to restore the digestive pathway.

Not every pancreatic cancer patient requires a Whipple procedure. Whether it is appropriate depends on the tumour's location, stage, and the patient's overall health. Surgical planning is carried out individually for each patient.

Distal pancreatectomy is the surgical removal of the body and/or tail of the pancreas, generally considered for tumours located in these regions.

As with other pancreatic procedures, whether this operation is appropriate — and whether the spleen is also removed — depends on the tumour's characteristics and location, determined through individual assessment.

Depending on the case, doctors may recommend a combination of investigations to understand the tumour and plan appropriate treatment. These can include CT scan, MRI, MRCP, endoscopic ultrasound, biopsy in selected cases, blood tests, and tumour markers such as CA 19-9 where clinically appropriate.

Not every patient requires every test — the treating surgeon determines what is relevant to each individual case. Accurate diagnosis and staging are especially important in pancreatic cancer given how much treatment planning depends on the tumour's exact location and extent.

As part of evaluation, doctors may assess whether a pancreatic tumour can be safely and completely removed with surgery. Broadly, pancreatic cancer may be described as resectable (the tumour appears removable with surgery), borderline resectable (removal may be possible but is more complex, often involving nearby blood vessels), locally advanced (the tumour has grown into nearby structures in a way that makes upfront surgery difficult), or metastatic (the cancer has spread to other parts of the body).

These categories help guide treatment planning, though the specific classification and its implications for an individual patient are determined through specialist assessment.

The pancreas sits close to several major blood vessels, and the relationship between a tumour and these vessels can significantly affect surgical planning. Specialist imaging and careful assessment help determine whether and how surgery can be performed safely.

Involvement of nearby blood vessels does not automatically rule out surgery. In some cases, surgical planning may need to account for this, which is why detailed imaging and specialist evaluation are important before any decision is made.

Pancreatic cancer treatment often involves more than surgery alone. Depending on the individual case, treatment planning may include chemotherapy, and in selected cases, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, alongside supportive and nutritional care.

Some patients may receive treatment before surgery and/or after surgery, depending on their diagnosis and staging. Not every patient requires every treatment, and this page describes these options at a general educational level rather than confirming that Dr. Jain personally provides each one.

Because pancreatic cancer treatment can involve several types of care, it often benefits from input across specialties, including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, and nutrition specialists.

This is a general description of how pancreatic cancer care commonly works; it does not represent a claim about a specific tumour board or multidisciplinary team at this clinic, which has not been separately confirmed.