Objectives: It is unclear whether the improved glucose metabolism in pancreas head cancer (PHC) patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy is due to the anatomical change or the relief of pancreatic duct obstruction.
Methods: We divided 170 patients into the PHC group (n = 54, 31.8%) and other pathology (non-PHC) group (n = 116, 68.2%). Glucose metabolic function was evaluated using the glucose tolerance index (GTI), and the pancreatic duct obstruction and dilatation was measured using the pancreatic atrophic index (PAI).
Results: The preoperative GTI was significantly higher in the PHC group (mean [standard deviation {SD}], 0.84 [1.16]) than in the non-PHC group (0.41 [SD, 0.59], P = 0.000). The postoperative GTI decreased significantly in the PHC group but remained unchanged in the non-PHC group. Similarly, the preoperative PAI was higher in the PHC group (0.32 [SD, 0.19]) than in the non-PHC group (0.13 [SD, 0.09], P = 0.000). The postoperative PAI decreased significantly in the PHC group, but not in the non-PHC group.
Conclusions: The impaired glucose metabolism in PHC can be caused by pancreatic duct obstruction. After pancreaticoduodenectomy, glucose metabolism is improved by the relief of pancreatic duct obstruction, and not by the anatomical change. The patients should be counseled accordingly.