V. Perim1, A. Fonseca1, M. Heslin1, V. Dudeja1, S. Reddy1, P. Vardas2, J.B. Rose1 1University Of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Surgery, Division Of Surgical Oncology, Birmingham, Alabama, USA 2University Of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Surgery, Division Of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
INTRODUCTION
Since Codivilla’s pioneering pancreatic resection in 1898 the terminology for resection of the pancreatic head has evolved. Terms like “pancreaticoduodenectomy”, “pancreatoduodenectomy”, and “duodenopancreatectomy” are often used interchangeably, but Greek etymology suggests they may not be precise synonyms. The Greek word "π?γκρεας" (pánkreas) means "all flesh" and refers specifically to the gland. The combining form “pancreato” denotes relationship to the pancreas, while “pancreatico” more precisely denotes relationship to the pancreatic duct. As the pancreatic duct is not the gland itself but an associated structure, “pancreatoduodenectomy” more accurately describes resection of both the pancreas and duodenum. This distinction was well described by Fingerhut et al in 2007. This study aims to describe the usage frequency of common terms for pancreatic head resection in English medical literature over time.
METHODS
We performed a comprehensive PubMed title search for “pancreaticoduodenectomy,” “pancreatoduodenectomy”, “duodenopancreatectomy”, “Whipple procedure”, “pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy”, and “pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy.” No restrictions on article type or time period were applied. Results were analyzed in R Studio.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 14,756 papers. Within the first 40 years of the analyzed literature, usage of the terms “pancreaticoduodenectomy”, “pancreatoduodenectomy”, and “duodenopancreatectomy” was relatively balanced, with usage distributed as 27.6%, 37.3%, and 34.2%, respectively. From 1984 to 2003, there was a significant shift in terminology, with “pancreaticoduodenectomy” representing 41.5% of the terms used, followed by “pancreatoduodenectomy” (32.5%), “duodenopancreatectomy” (11.3%), “Whipple procedure” (5.9%), “pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy” (2.6%), and “pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy” (6.1%). In the last 20 years (2004-2023), the term “pancreaticoduodenectomy” has grown to represent 65.7% of usage, followed by “pancreatoduodenectomy” at 27.9%, with the remaining terms collectively accounting for only 6.5%.
CONCLUSION
Over the past 80 years, the terminology for resection of the pancreatic head has undergone significant changes. Historically, there has been a preference for the grammatically incorrect term "pancreaticoduodenectomy," likely due to its early adoption by pioneering surgeons.