The Yonsei criteria as a clinically detectable parameter for excellent prognosis in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer: outcomes of a propensity score-matched analysis

Background: This study aimed to identify that Yonsei criteria (YC) can be regarded as a preoperative clinical parameter to predict biological behavior of the left-sided pancreatic cancer. Methods: Between June 2007 and December 2014, 135 patients who underwent minimally invasive (MIS) or open distal pancreatectomy for left-sided pancreatic cancer were enrolled in this study consecutively. Perioperative short-term and long-term oncologic outcomes were analyzed according to the YC retrospectively. Results: Fifty-four and 81 patients did and did not meet the YC, respectively. Short-term oncologic outcomes were favorable among those meeting the YC even after propensity score matching. Patients within the YC also had better disease-free and disease-specific overall survival (p < 0.05). In analysis for receiver operating characteristic curve, area under curve of CA19-9 was satisfactory only within YC group. Multivariate analysis for disease-free survival identified the YC as a strong independent prognostic factor (p < 0.05). In preoperative clinical setting, patients’ survival was clearly different based on following clinical groups, such as within YC, beyond YC, and unresectable. Conclusions: Preoperative CT-based determined YC can predict excellent short-term and long-term oncologic outcomes. YC might have a potential role as a preoperative clinical staging for left-sided pancreatic cancer. External validations of YC based on multicenter cohorts are mandatory to confirm this oncologic significance of YC.