In this issue

Excerpt

This issue opens with a review of the complexities of the diagnostic work-up of a pancreatoduodenectomy specimen. The paper is not exactly a universally accepted guideline but it goes way beyond a personal or group opinion. Soer et al. (https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s00428-018-2321-5) review different approaches, some of which are proclaimed guidelines, against the background of the information clinicians need to provide care according to current standards. Important issues are resection margins and the precise origin of the tumor. For both, however, universally accepted criteria for evaluation as well as definitions are lacking, in view of the differences between existing guidelines. Assessment of crucial parameters is influenced by the way the specimen is cut-in (bisectioning or axial slicing). Existing guidelines appear to be insufficiently evidence based and the authors argue convincingly that more and better designed prospective studies are necessary to provide the data which might underpin a better validated and (hopefully) more universally applied guideline for the processing of this anatomically complex specimen type. …