Benign is a Relative Term: the Whipple Resection in Non-Oncologic Cases

The pancreaticoduodenectomy, commonly referred to as the Whipple resection, is the en bloc surgical resection of the pancreas head and uncinate process, duodenum, gallbladder, common bile duct, and common hepatic duct just proximal to the cystic duct takeoff with (conventional) or without (pylorus-sparing) the gastric antrum. Although generally an oncologic procedure, the Whipple resection can be warranted in benign or pre-neoplastic periampullary/ampullary lesions as the intimate structural relationship of the distal common bile duct, pancreatic head and ampulla of Vater creates an opportunity for otherwise benign processes to cause severe obstructive