Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcome of surgical treatment for isolated local recurrence of pancreatic cancer.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
Results: Six studies concerning 431 patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis: 176 underwent redo surgery, and 255 received non-surgical treatments. Overall survival and post-recurrence survival were significantly longer in the re-resected group (ratio of means (ROM) 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54-2.56, I2 = 75.89%, p = 0.006, and ROM = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.48-2.83, I2 = 76.39%, p = 0.002, respectively) with a median overall survival benefit of 28.7 months (mean difference (MD) 28.7; 95% CI, 10.3-47.0, I2 = 89.27%, p < 0.001) and median survival benefit of 15.2 months after re-resection (MD 15.2; 95% CI, 8.6-21.8, I2 = 58.22%, p = 0.048).
Conclusion: Resection of isolated pancreatic cancer recurrences is safe and feasible and may offer a survival benefit. Selection of patients and assessment of time and site of recurrence are mandatory.
Keywords: isolated local recurrence; pancreatectomy; pancreatic cancer; pancreatic remnant; recurrence; redo surgery.