Is node-positive duodenal carcinoma curable?
Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum gives rise to nonspecific gastrointestinal tract symptoms, and diagnosis is often delayed. Despite this delay, the Whipple procedure may still be curative for patients with positive lymph nodes, a fact poorly appreciated in the surgical literature. The role of segmental resection for distal duodenal tumors is unclear.
Seriously ill hospitalized patients desire to discuss end-of-life issues with their physicians but their preferred role in decision making is variable and difficult to predict.