When tumors are present on the head of the pancreas, which surgical procedure is typically performed?

The Whipple procedure, also known as pancreaticoduodenectomy, is the surgical intervention typically performed for tumors located in the head of the pancreas. This operation involves the removal of the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the bile duct, and sometimes the gallbladder and part of the stomach. It is specifically designed to address cancers or tumors that affect the pancreatic head, and it aims to remove the tumor while ensuring that as much of the surrounding structures can be preserved and their functions maintained.

The significance of this procedure lies in its complexity and the need to reconstruct the digestive tract afterward, which is a critical factor given the anatomical relationship of the pancreas with other organs in the upper abdomen. Its application for head of the pancreas tumors is well-established in surgical practice, making it the procedure of choice in this scenario.

Other procedures presented, such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hemicolectomy, and gastrectomy, are not indicated for tumors of the head of the pancreas; they are designed for different types of conditions involving the gallbladder, colon, or stomach, respectively, and do not target pancreatic tumors directly.