[The palliative surgery of periampullary neoplasms. Our experience].
The increased incidence of peri-ampullar neoplasia and the low percentage of cases in which radical surgery is possible fuel interest in the use of palliative treatment for this pathology. The authors report their 10-year experience of palliative surgery for peri-ampullar cancer and evaluate immediate and long-term results. Between January 1980 and December 1990 the authors operated 91 patients with peri-ampullar carcinoma (head of the pancreas, Vater's ampulla, terminal choledochus). Eight (9%) underwent radical surgery and 83 (91%) underwent palliative surgery. The distribution of cases according to tumour origin in the latter group was as follows: head of the pancreas 60 cases (72%); intra-pancreatic choledochus 13 (16%); Vater's ampulla 10 (12%). The most frequent symptoms were pain (70%) and jaundice (63%). The mean interval between the appearance of symptoms and diagnosis was 1 month (range: 5 days-12 months). The most frequently performed biliodigestive derivative surgery was cholecystojejunostomy (72% of cases). Complications were observed in 18% of cases. Mortality was 12%. Mean survival was 5 months (range: 2-43 months). The recent use of endoscopic techniques for the treatment of jaundice in patients with inoperable peri-ampullar carcinoma now requires prospective studies to compare these techniques with surgery.
Lantone
G
G
Divisione di Chirurgia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Saverio de Bellis, Castellana Grotte, Bari.
Pezzolla
F
F
Lorusso
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000601:surgery*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors