Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater in Crete. A clinical and ERCP registry over eight years.
BACKGROUND
Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is an infrequent tumor that can be diagnosed, early.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater were retrospectively studied and their data were analyzed.


RESULTS
Most common presenting symptoms were jaundice (67%), weight loss (58%), fever and pain (54%). Endoscopic biopsies which were taken in 19 patients revealed carcinoma or dysplasia in 15 patients and were normal for in the rest. Twelve patients were treated with a Whipple's resection, 5 with local resection, 2 with palliative surgery and 2 received a stent endoscopically. During a mean follow-up period of 25 months, (range 1-82) 12 deaths were noted, and one patient was lost during follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Presenting symptoms, endoscopic and histological findings were similar as in other series. The contribution of duodenoscopy, ERCP and endoscopic biopsy is essential for diagnosis but endoscopic biopsies may be misleading.
Mouzas
I A
IA
Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. mouzas@med.uoc.gr
Skordilis
P
P
Frangiadakis
N
N
Leondidis
C
C
Alexandrakis
G
G
Potamianos
S
S
Kouroumalis
E
E
Manousos
O N
ON
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000473:pathology; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed