Objective  The present study discussed the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic body and tail carcinoma.

  Methods  The data of 52 patients with pancreatic body and tail carcinoma treated in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2008 to December 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The data included historical materials of perioperative examination and therapy. The data of 49 cases were reviewed retrospectively, and the median survival was calculated by the Kaplan-MeiermethodThe effects of the clinicopathologic parameters on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic body and tail carcinoma were examined by the log rank test.

  Results  Thirty-eight patients underwent exploratory surgery among which 24 had surgical resection, and the standard procedure was distal pancreatectomy plus splenectomy. The tumor staging was stage I in five patients (13.16%), stage Ⅱ in nineteen patients (50%), stage Ⅲ in five patients (13.16%), and stage IV in nine patients (23.67%). The median survival time was 18.0 ±1.23 months for patients who received radical resection and 10.0 ±2.71 months for patients who underwent nonspecific treatment or palliative therapy. The radical resection was associated with a longer survival period than the nonspecific treatment or palliative therapy (P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  Early diagnosis is the key to achieving long-term survival. The radical resection plays an important role in improving the surgical treatment.