En Bloc Celiac Axis Resection for Pancreatic Cancer: Classification of Anatomical Variants Based on Tumor Extent

BACKGROUND: En bloc celiac axis resection (CAR) for pancreatic cancer is considered increasingly after modern neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Appleby and distal pancreatectomy with CAR are anatomically inaccurate terms, as tumors can extend beyond celiac axis proper, requiring concurrent resection of the proper hepatic artery and/or superior mesenteric artery. STUDY DESIGN: A 3-level classification for CAR (class 1, 2, or 3) was developed after...