The Pancreas Center Surgery Program

Surgery Program

Surgery to remove all cancerous tissue currently offers the best chance for a cure or long-term management of pancreatic cancer. At the Pancreas Center our commitment to our patients and our time-tested surgical expertise has led to high success rates for those people we treat. Our surgeons conduct specialized operations to remove cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. In addition, we are constantly innovating and improving surgical procedures for pancreatic neoplasms, including cancer and precancerous conditions like IPMN.

While surgery is the standard treatment for pancreatic cancer, one third of patients are inoperable because their cancer has invaded blood vessels in the area. At the Pancreas Center, we utilize neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink tumors and are able to offer surgery to many of the 35% of patients with locally inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Columbia has a long history with surgical treatment of pancreatic diseases. Allen O. Whipple, M.D., former chairman of the Department of Surgery at Columbia University, pioneered one of the most important pancreatic operations in 1935 which now bears his name — the Whipple procedure.

Pancreatic Resection Mortality (1994-1999)

We encourage you to come in and meet one of our Pancreas Center surgeons to discuss your treatment options.