Alpha-fetoprotein-producing cancer of the ampulla of Vater.
A case of cancer of the ampulla of Vater producing alpha-fetoprotein is reported and the literature is reviewed. As far as we know, the literature contains no reports of such a case. The preoperative serum alpha-fetoprotein was remarkably high (7,480 ng/ml), but it fell to normal values (under 5.0 ng/ml) after pancreatoduodenectomy, by means of which the lesion could be radically resected. In this case, the immunohistochemical findings at optical and electron microscopy clearly indicated the production of alpha-fetoprotein by the cancer cells of the ampulla of Vater.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000378:metabolism*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins