[Clinical characteristics associated to resectability in patients with tumors of the ampulla of Vater in a third-level hospital in Mexico: an 18-year experience].
BACKGROUND
Ampulla of Vater's tumors (AVT) are rare and account for 0.2% of neoplasia in necropsies. The stage, comorbidities and surgical experience are crucial for prognosis. The aim of this work is to report the clinical characteristics, treatment and complication of a group of patients with AVT.


METHODS
Patients with AVT were included in a retrospective manner. Descriptive statistics was used and data were shown as means and SD.


RESULTS
One hundred and six patients were included with a mean age of 58.5 +/- 14 years and 58% were women. Jaundice was the most common clinical data and it was present in 90% of cases. Two-thirds of patients underwent a Whipple surgical procedure. Complications of surgery were present in 35% of cases and abdominal sepsis and pancreatic fistulae were the most common (32% and 29%, respectively). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological type and 39% of cases were in stage IV at diagnosis. Age higher or equal to 65 years was associated with less surgical possibilities. Melena at presentation was associated with a higher probability of surgical resection.


CONCLUSIONS
The probability of surgical resection is lower in patients older than 65 years and higher in those with melena at the diagnosis.
Tocay-Ajcuc
Henry
H
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición, Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, DF México. henrytocay@hotmail.com
Téllez-Avila
Félix I
FI
García-Martínez
Carlos I
CI
Chávez-Tapia
Norberto C
NC
Uscanga-Domínguez
Luis F
LF
Ramírez-Luna
Miguel A
MA
Chan-Nuñez
Carlos
C
Ruíz-Cordero
Roberto
R
Torre-Delgadillo
Aldo
A
D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies