The current study highlights a standardized approach to the macroscopic assessment of distal pancreatectomy specimens for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, with special emphasis on the measurement of pancreatic dimensions and those of other organs, inking of margins, measurement of tumor size and proximity to margins, lymph node sampling and block selection.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignant cancers. A minority (20%) of PDACs are found in the pancreatic body and tail. Accurate pathology assessment of the pancreatic specimen is essential for providing prognostic information and it may guide further treatment strategies. The recent 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging system for pancreatic tumors has incorporated significant changes to tumor (pT) stage, which is predominantly based on tumor size. This change emphasizes the importance of careful block selection. Owing to the greater prevalence of tumors in the head of the pancreas, efforts are made to standardize the assessment of pancreatoduodenectomy specimens. However, consensus regarding the macroscopic assessment of distal (i.e., left) pancreatectomy specimens is lacking. The DIPLOMA approach includes the standardized measurement of pancreas and other resected organs, inking of relevant surgical margins and anatomical surfaces without removing covering layers of fat, measurement of tumor size (for T-stage), together with assessment of splenic vessel involvement (and other organs if present). All relevant margins are assessed, and relevant blocks are selected to confirm these parameters microscopically. The current protocol describes a standardized approach to the macroscopic assessment of distal pancreatectomy specimens. This approach was developed during several meetings with pathologists and surgeons during the preparation phase for an international multicenter trial (DIPLOMA, ISRCTN44897265), which focuses on radicality of distal pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This standardized approach can be instrumental in the design of studies and will uniform reporting on the outcomes of distal pancreatectomy. The described technique is used in the DIPLOMA trial for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma but may also be useful for other indications.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a very poor prognosis1. Surgery, in combination with (neo)adjuvant therapy remains the only curative treatment2. Following surgery, adequate histopathological assessment of the resected specimen is essential for prognostic stratification and in addition it may guide further treatment strategies3. Furthermore, the recent 8th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging system for pancreatic tumors has incorporated significant changes to tumor (pT) stage, which is predominantly based on tumor size4,5. While maximum tumor size is assessed macroscopically, adequate specimen sampling is required in order to corroborate these findings, particularly as chronic pancreatitis can mimic tumor appearance with the naked eye.
As the majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (up to 80%) are encountered in the head of the pancreas, most of the literature is based on the assessment of pancreatoduodenectomy specimens6,7. In the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) have published datasets that provide evidence-based guidelines on the specimen handling, dissection and reporting of pancreatic cancer, with focus placed on the more common pancreatoduodenectomy specimens8. Nonetheless, international consensus regarding specimen grossing is still lacking and practice is still highly divergent between centers6. The equivalent process of standardizing pathology assessment of specimen originating from a distal (i.e., left) pancreatectomy is now of growing clinical interest.
The Distal Pancreatectomy, Minimally Invasive or Open, for malignancy (DIPLOMA, ISRCTN44897265) trial is an international multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing open versus minimally invasive surgical approach for the management of PDAC of the pancreatic body and tail. The DIPLOMA pathology protocol has been developed as a means of standardizing pathology assessment and reporting for this trial. The protocol describes the assessment of distal pancreatectomy specimens, including specimen orientation, inking, lymph node sampling, assessment of splenic vessel involvement (and other organs if present), and block selection.
The described method was developed during four meetings of the DIPLOMA study group (April 2015 Manchester, December 2016 Amsterdam, May 2017 Mainz, and April 2018 Amsterdam) with highly experienced 20−40 surgeons and pancreatic pathologists from 10 countries across Europe. Discussions included the relevance of the various margins, the transection plane and especially the dissection plane between the posterior part of the body and tail.
Patient characteristics
A 79-year-old woman presented with an incidental finding of a 34 mm tumor in the body of the pancreas, which was suspicious for malignancy. The CT scan showed no radiological evidence of tumor involvement of major vascular structures or the presence of (distant) metastases. Only adjacent small sized lymphadenopathy was noted. The patient was discussed in the multidisciplinary team meeting where it was decided that she was eligible for surgery. An open radical distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and wedge resection of the stomach was performed within the DIPLOMA trial.
Macroscopic assessment of distal pancreatectomy specimens and nomenclature of margins
The relevant margins that should be assessed in a distal pancreatectomy specimen include the transection margin, splenic artery and vein margins, posterior dissection margin, and additional margins in the case of multivisceral resections as shown in Table 1.
The transection margin is the surface where the pancreatic body was separated from the neck. Mainly in laparoscopic, but also in increasing numbers of open, surgical specimens, this margin is a linear staple line. The splenic artery and vein margins are in close proximity to the stapled transection margin and are marked with vascular clips or small staples. The posterior margin is the dissection plane between the posterior part of the body and tail of the pancreas and the frontal plane of the renal fascia, within the retroperitoneum. Between the anterior and posterior renal fascia is the perirenal space, within which lie the kidney and adrenal gland in a loose fibrofatty connective tissue compartment. The posterior dissection margin varies depending on the exact surgical procedure performed. This may include the anterior renal fascia, with or without the adrenal gland and posterior renal fascia9,10. While the anterior, peritonealized surface is not considered a surgical margin, tumor breaching of this surface is associated with an increased risk of local recurrence3.
The protocol followed the ethical guidelines of Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Informed consent was obtained for the use of the tissue for teaching and research purposes.
NOTE: The relevant steps are summarized in Table 2 and the relevant materials in Table of Materials.
1. Specimen orientation
NOTE: In order to aid the histopathologist in accurate specimen orientation, ensure that the operating surgeon places orientation sutures to mark the posterior dissection plane, the splenic vessel margins, and the pancreatic transection margin.
2. Measurements
3. Inking
4. Dissection
5. Tumor assessment
6. Tissue sampling
Microscopic assessment showed a 28 x 25 x 30 mm, moderately differentiated, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as shown in Table 3. There was perineural and lymphovascular invasion without splenic artery or vein involvement. In total, 17 lymph nodes were found, of which 3 were involved (1 superior border, 2 inferior border). Distant lymph nodes (station 8 and hepatic artery) showed no evidence of metastatic malignancy. All resection margins were clear of tumor: transection margin >40 mm and posterior margin 2 mm. Tumor was over 40 mm from the splenic vessel margins. The minimal margin to the anterior surface was 1 mm. Tumor invaded the muscularis propria of the gastric wall, but was clear of the stapled margin by at least 3 mm. Using the AJCC/UICC 8th edition staging system tumor was classified as pT2, N1, M0, stage IIB.
Transection margin | Medial most portion of the pancreas separating the body of the pancreas from the neck, identified in the surgical specimen by a linear staple line |
Splenic artery and vein margin | Both are in close proximity to the stapled transection margin, and normally marked with vascular clips |
Posterior dissection margin | Dissection plane between the posterior part of the body and tail of the pancreas and the frontal plane of the renal fascia, within the retroperitoneum Margin varies depending on the exact surgical procedure performed |
Anterior peritonealized surface | Not always considered as a true surgical margin. The anterior surface is peritonealized |
Additional margin(s) | Any additional organ, including the adrenal gland, that is resected, produces an own margin and should be assessed |
Table 1: Nomenclature of distal pancreatectomy specimen margins/surfaces.
Specimen orientation | 1 | Formalin fixation, at room temperature, for 24−48 h |
2 | Identification posterior dissection plane by orientation suture (placed by operating surgeon) or location of splenic vessels and the other margins/surfaces. Finally identify the spleen. | |
3 | Peripancreatic fat should be left intact and attached to the specimen | |
Measurements | 1 | Dimensions are measured in millimeters. |
2 | Pancreas from medial to lateral, cranial to caudal (height) and anterior to posterior (width) | |
3 | Spleen cranial to caudal (length), anterior to posterior, medial to lateral | |
4 | Additional measurements for additional organs resected, including adrenal gland | |
Inking | 1 | Inking of transection margin, posterior dissection margin and anterior peritonealized surface |
2 | Additional margins (superior and inferior border) can be inked for orientation and grouping of lymph node stations | |
3 | Inking of additional resected organs, including adrenal gland | |
Specimen dissection | 1 | 'En face' dissection of the transection margin and removal of the stapler line (when present) |
2 | 'En face' dissection of splenic artery and vein | |
3 | Remove any additional margin | |
4 | Pancreatic specimen from medial to lateral in 3−5 mm intervals | |
5 | Number and record number of the transverse sections laid out and the location of tumor and appearances | |
Tumor assessment | 1 | Macroscopic assessment of tumor involvement of margins and/or (splenic) vessels) |
2 | Assessment of tumor size by measuring height, width and length. The latter by assessing the total of slices involved by tumor | |
3 | Perpendicular sections of the spleen can be taken at 3−5 mm intervals | |
Block taking | 1 | Sample tumor in sufficient number of blocks, detailed block description with photographs is advised |
2 | Blocks of tumor are selected in continuity with sections of the peripancreatic fat from the superior and inferior borders in order to capture lymph node station 11 and 18 | |
3 | For tumors 20 mm or less, whole tumor sampling is reasonable | |
4 | Sampling of splenic hilum (station 10) lymph nodes | |
5 | Additional blocks for additional organ(s) |
Table 2: Steps for pathological assessment distal pancreatectomy specimen.
Tumor type | Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma |
Tumor size | 28 x 25 x 30 mm |
Differentiation and invasion | Moderatly differentiation with both perineural and lymphovascular invasion |
Lymph nodes | 17 lymph nodes obtained, of which 3 metastatic (1 superior border, 2 inferior border). Station 8 and hepatic artery lymph nodes clear. |
Resection margins | Transection margin: >40 mm; splenic vessel margin: >40 mm; posterior margin: 2 mm; anterior surface: 1 mm; gastric margin: 3 mm |
AJCC/UICC 8th edition | pT2, N1, M0, stage IIB |
Table 3: Representative results of microscopic assessment.
Adequate histopathological assessment of a resected specimen is essential for the stratification of disease prognosis and guidance of further treatment strategies. Standardized protocols for the assessment of specimens resulting from distal pancreatectomy for PDAC are lacking. This potentially creates a considerable variability among the reported histopathological findings14. Differences in definitions and practice between centers limit the comparability of studies15. Furthermore, the R1 (tumor <1 mm of margin) resection rates vary from 16−85%15. The discrepancies in R1 rates relate to divergence in the extent of tissue sampling, differences in microscopic assessment and the lack of international consensus regarding an appropriate R1 definition8,16.
The current protocol provides a standardized protocol for the macroscopic assessment of distal pancreatectomy specimens with PDAC. This includes improved specimen orientation by using sutures of the posterior margin marked by the surgeons and different colors to distinguish the relevant margins, including those of additional organs.
According to AJCC/UICC TNM8 staging, tumors are staged according to size and tumor extent. Macroscopic assessment of tumor size can be challenging owing to the presence of fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis that can mimic tumor macroscopically. It is for this reason that extensive tumor sampling, supported by a detailed block description and close-up photographs of the specimen slices, are required to ensure accurate assessment of tumor size and extent. It should be noted that in case of intraoperative frozen assessment the accurate distance between tumor and transection margin is the sum of the distance between tumor and transection margin in the specimen and the thickness of the intraoperative sample of the transection margin. The standardized methods of tumor size assessment will increase appropriate staging of the tumor according to the 8th edition of the TNM system.
Finally, for tumors of the pancreatic body or tail the minimum number of lymph nodes sampling for sufficient nodal staging has not yet been established17. However, understanding the pattern of lymph node metastasis is of potential importance for further improvement of treatment and prognosis. Therefore, inking the superior and inferior border of the pancreas will help the identification of lymph node stations 11 and 18 and adequate lymph node sampling. Separate reporting on the regional lymph node stations is not common practice. In general, only the total number of lymph nodes, number of involved lymph nodes, and lymph node ratio are reported8.
A limitation of the methods used is the removal of the stapler line of the transection margin. Although staplers are increasingly used for the transection of the pancreas and closure of the pancreatic stump18, staples cannot be cut by microtome blades during further processing. It is therefore advised to remove the staplers with as little tissue as possible to minimize the loss of tissue at the true margin and report when tumor is macroscopically close to the staple line.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We would like to thank Joana Ribeiro for filming of the specimen.
Formalin | Genta | BFNC50 | |
Gloves | Healthline | FTG182, FTG183, FTG184 (depending on size) | |
Blade Handles | Swann Morton | ||
Blades | Swann Morton | FSF440 | |
Scales | Ohaus | ||
Long Knives | Cellpath | KMY811 | |
Ruler | Solmedia | RUL003 | |
Scissors | Weiss | FGP8939 |