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distal pancreatectomy

(DIS-tul PAN-kree-uh-TEK-toh-mee)
Surgery to remove the body and the tail of the pancreas. The spleen may also be removed. A distal pancreatectomy is usually done to remove benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer) pancreatic tumors found in the body or tail of the pancreas, but it may also be done to treat chronic pancreatitis and injuries to the pancreas.
Anatomy of the pancreas; drawing shows the pancreas, stomach, spleen, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, small intestine, and colon. An inset shows the head, body, and tail of the pancreas. The bile duct and pancreatic duct are also shown.Enlarge this image in new window
Anatomy of the pancreas. The pancreas has three areas: the head, body, and tail. It is found in the abdomen near the stomach, intestines, and other organs.
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