title: Safety and long-term follow-up of endoscopic snare excision of ampullary adenomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adenomas of the duodenal papilla are rare. Because of their malignant potential, resection is mandatory. Options for resection include endoscopic resection techniques, transduodenal local excision, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and outcome of endoscopic snare resection of papillary adenomas in a Greek cohort of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients (six women and eight men; age range, 42-76 years) were referred for endoscopic management of ampullary adenomas. A questionnaire was completed for each patient, which included preoperative and postoperative data points. Presenting symptoms were jaundice (n = 4), cholangitis (n = 1), and pain (n = 2). Seven patients were asymptomatic. If there was no common bile and main pancreatic duct invasion and the appearance suggested a benign lesion, biductal sphincterotomy onto normal duodenal tissue was performed. The adenomas were resected via a diathermy snare, along with the major papilla, after elevation of the lesion by epinephrine plus dextrose 50% (1:10,000) solution. At the discretion of the endoscopist, a biliary or pancreatic stent was inserted as a prophylactic procedure immediately after excision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologically, resected tissue included 11 adenomas and three adenomas with focal malignancy, referred for pancreaticoduodenectomy. Immediate complications were moderate bleeding (n = 1) and mild pancreatitis (n = 1). No procedure-related death occurred. Follow-up was available for 11 patients (mean, 28.36 months; range, 6-72). Pancreatic and biliary stents were placed in four and nine patients, respectively. Follow-up endoscopy revealed recurrent/residual adenomatous tissue in two patients (18%), which was resected endoscopically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic snare resection of adenomas of the major duodenal papilla is a safe, well-tolerated alternative to surgical therapy. In expert hands, complications are mild and may be avoided by pre-resection biductal sphincterotomy, stent placement, and elevation of the lesion by epinephrine plus dextrose 50% solution injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy, Central Hospital, Ethnikis Aminis 41, T.K. 54635, Thessaloniki, Greece. pantso@the.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katsinelos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paroutoglou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kountouras
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beltsis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Papaziogas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimidis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zavos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimiropoulos
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome