Waiting for surgery at high-volume centers yields better outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients than early surgery at low-volume centers.

• Patients at high-volume centers with longer waits (over 28 days) had a 5-year survival rate of 23%, compared to 19% at low-volume centers.
• Adjusted analysis shows a mortality hazard ratio of 0.81 for high-volume centers, indicating significantly improved survival.

This supports centralization of care despite longer wait times, enhancing patient outcomes.

• The long-wait group also showed better odds of complete resection and reduced 30-day mortality, though they faced higher risks of nodal disease.