NOTE, original article title: Comparison of oncologic outcomes between open and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using data from the KOTUS-BP national database: Overcoming selection bias and the necessity of definite indications

Owing to advancements in surgical techniques, patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are frequently managed with laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) despite no high-level evidence. Herein researchers performed propensity score matching (PSM) analysis using data from a large-scale national database, in order to investigate the long-term oncologic outcomes of LDP in patients with PDAC.

• The Korean Tumor Registry System-Biliary Pancreas yielded data of a total of 1,202 patients who were treated for PDAC via distal pancreatectomy across 16 hospitals.

• A total of 846 and 356 patients were managed using open DP (ODP) and LDP, respectively.

• A selected group of patients with PDAC was managed using LDP.

• Among patients undergoing LDP, there appeared comparable long-term oncologic outcomes to those observed following ODP.