The role of endoscopy in ampullary and duodenal adenomas

Impact of pancreatic and biliary stent on post-endoscopic papillectomy complications: A single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is recommended as the first-line therapy for ampullary tumors, despite a relatively high incidence of complications. Pancreatic and/or biliary stents are placed at the endoscopist's discretion to prevent post-EP complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different stents.

METHODS

A total of 117 patients who underwent EP and met the criteria between June 2006 and October 2022 were enrolled in the study. These patients were divided into a pancreatic stent group (PS group, n = 47), a biliary stent group (BS group, n = 38), and a two-stent group (PBS [PS and BS] group, n = 32). Relevant clinical data were collected and compared among the three groups. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to explore risk factors for post-EP complications.

RESULTS

The incidence of all complications was 37.6% (44/117). Pancreatitis and hemorrhage were the two most common complications with incidence rates of 14.5% (17/117) and 17.9% (21/117). The incidence rates of post-EP pancreatitis were 10.6% (5/47), 23.7% (9/38), and 9.4% (3/32) in the PS group, BS group, and PBS group, respectively, with no significant differences. There were also no significant differences in other complications among the three groups. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-0.99; P = 0.022) was independently associated with post-EP pancreatitis while tumor size (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.06-2.60; P = 0.028) was independently associated with post-EP hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

While pancreatic stenting is the first choice to prevent post-EP pancreatitis, biliary stenting could also be considered as a substitute for patients with difficulties in pancreatic cannulation. Two-stent (biliary and pancreatic stent) placement is unnecessary unless it is required due to other concerns.

The Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of 71 Duodenal Brunner's Gland Adenomas with Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate outcomes of patients with duodenal Brunner's gland adenomas (BGAs) that were treated endoscopically.

METHODS

We identified 71 consecutive patients treated at our center with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for their duodenal tumors diagnosed pathologically as BGAs over the period between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2021. We retrospectively analyzed our experience and short- and long-term outcomes of ESD therapy on patients with BGAs.

RESULTS

Among 71 BGA patients with an average age of 57 ± 11.7 years (range: 30-82), 48 (67.6%) were male and 23 (32.4%) were female. The accuracy of preoperative diagnosis with endoscopic ultrasonography was 44.0% (22/50). The H. pylori infection was found in 29 patients (29/71, 40.8%). The median size of BGAs was 1.5 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8-2.7 cm). The most common location was the duodenum bulb (50/71, 64.8%). For the ESD procedure, the median operation time was 15.0 min (IQR 9.5-25.5 min). The en bloc and the complete resection rates were 97.2% and 92.3%, respectively. ESD-related mild acute obstructive pancreatitis was present in 2 patients (2/4, 50%) with BGAs located in the ampulla region. During the follow-up period, 1 patient with a positive peripheral margin experienced tumor recurrence 2 years after the initial ESD. There was no disease-related death for the cohort.

CONCLUSION

ESD was an effective and safe therapeutic option for BGA patients with excellent outcomes. Long-term follow-up is needed.

Endoscopic Papillectomy for Ampullary Tumors

Ampullary tumors originate from the ampulla of Vater and are often discovered incidentally during an upper endoscopy. These tumors usually occur sporadically and may be benign or malignant in nature. Tumor growth clinically presents with cholestasis, pancreatitis, and bleeding. Patients with ampullary adenomas are often asymptomatic; however, removal of these lesions is recommended in view of their malignant potential. Following advances in endoscopic techniques and the accumulation of experience, considering high recurrence, mortality, and morbidity rates associated with surgery, endoscopic papillectomy may be useful as first-line treatment for adenomatous lesions with ambiguous malignant changes or focal intraepithelial carcinoma. Although it is relatively safe and easy to perform, the operation is a high-level procedure that may be associated with serious complications. It should be performed by an experienced endoscopist at a well-equipped hospital/center with emergency facilities and support personnel. Accurate resection is associated with high treatment success rates. Most complications are mild and can be treated medically. Pancreatitis is the most common complication, and pancreatic duct stenting is useful for prophylaxis. Recurrence may occur, and is more frequently observed during segmental resection; therefore, close periodic follow-up is essential. Although there are no unified indications or guidelines for endoscopic papillectomy, endoscopic papillectomy may be safe and effective for management of ampullary adenomas. Careful patient selection and follow-up are mandatory.

Endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary adenomatous lesions: A literature review

Ampullary adenomatous lesions of the gastrointestinal tract are rare and can be asymptomatic. Therefore, ampullary adenomas with malignant potential require prompt removal, regardless of whether they are adenomatous or carcinomatous lesions. Endoscopic papillectomy is a safe and effective alternative therapy to surgery to treat duodenal papillary lesions in selected patients. Accurate preoperative diagnosis and staging of ampullary adenomatous lesions are critical for predicting prognosis and determining the most appropriate therapeutic approach. Furthermore, the management and prevention of adverse events and endoscopic treatment for remnant or recurrent lesions and surveillance are essential for successful endoscopic management of ampullary adenomatous lesions. This literature review was based on PubMed and MEDLINE and focused on recent advancements in the endoscopic papillectomy technique to provide a comprehensive view of endoscopic papillectomy to treat ampullary adenomatous lesions.

Therapeutic Outcomes and Risk Factors for Complications of Endoscopic Papillectomy: A Retrospective Analysis of a Single-Center Study

Purpose

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been accepted as a viable alternative therapy to surgery in benign duodenal papillary lesions. However, postoperative complications limit its widespread clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate the overall safety of the EP procedure and identify significant risk factors of post-EP complications.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively collected 76 patients who had undergone EP in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2016 to 2019 and graded their postoperative complications. We assessed twelve patient-, disease- or procedure-related variables to identify risk factors related to the occurrence of post-EP complications using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Among the 76 patients included in this study, the incidence of entire post-EP complications was 36.8%, most of which were in a mild form. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, the pathologic tumor types, especially high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HIN), and the placement of stents were significantly associated with the occurrence of post-EP complications. Patients with HIN tumors were more likely to have post-EP pancreatitis, bleeding, and overall complications (odds ratio (OR) 11.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.91–62.5, P = 0.001; OR 6.52, 95% CI 1.45–46.77, P = 0.027; OR 9.81, 95% CI 2.75–44.04, P = 0.001, respectively). Pancreatic stent placement may contribute to the occurrence of post-EP pancreatitis (OR 7.61, 95% CI 1.37–64.53, P = 0.033). While biliary stent placement was found negatively related to the occurrence of post-EP bleeding and overall complications (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0–0.37, P = 0.016; OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01–0.99, P = 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

EP is a safe procedure for papillary lesion treatment with a low rate and generally mild postoperative complications. Two factors are significantly associated with the occurrence of complications. The selection of eligible patients and suitable procedures is important to reduce the complication rate and severity.

The Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Papillectomy and Management of Cases of Incomplete Resection: A Single-Center Study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic papillectomy is increasingly performed as an alternative to surgery for early ampullary tumors.

AIM

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the long-term results of endoscopic papillectomy, the management of cases with incomplete endoscopic resection, and the long-term recurrence rates.

METHODS

All 46 patients who underwent endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary tumors between November 2003 and March 2018 were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The final pathological diagnoses were adenoma (n = 44) and adenocarcinoma (n = 2). Histopathological evaluations after endoscopic papillectomy revealed that complete resection was achieved in 19 patients (19/46, 41.3%). Among the 27 patients with incomplete resection, the margin was histopathologically positive in 14 patients and difficult to evaluate in 13. Additional surgery was performed for 2 of the 14 patients with positive margins. Excluding 2 patients who received additional surgery, 7 of the 25 patients with incomplete resection had recurrence, and 18 had no recurrence during the follow-up period. Ten (77%) of the 13 patients in whom the margin was difficult to evaluate had no recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 80% of the patients in whom the histopathological evaluation of the resected margin was difficult had no recurrence even after approximately 5 years of follow-up. Thus, careful observation may be considered for these patients.

Endoscopic Ampullectomy of Benign Ampullary Lesions: Outcomes From a Single Center Study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ampullectomy (EA) offers an insignificantly intrusive strategy for viably treating mucosal and occasionally submucosal lesions of the ampulla of Vater and encompassing periampullary area with high achievement and is more secure. The aim of this study was to present safety, efficacy, and outcomes of EA in the treatment of benign lesions of ampulla Vater performed by single experienced endoscopists in a high volume center.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in patients referred to our hospital (Turkey High Speciality Training and Research Hospital, Turkey) for endoscopic evaluation of ampullary benign lesions over an 8-year period (between October 2011 and September 2019). Success rate was defined as complete resection of lesions.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients with a median age of 64 years were included. Twenty-five patients had lesions confined to the ampulla vateri (86.2%). Accordingly, 2 lesions had intraductal extension adenoma (IDA) (6.9%) and 2 were lateral spreading adenoma (6.9%). The median size of the lesion was 17.5 mm (10 to 36 mm). Nineteen lesions (65.5%) were resected en bloc and 10 lesions (34.5%) were resected in piecemeal manner. Complete resection was achieved in 21 of 23 patients with benign ampullary lesions. The procedure success rate was 91.3%. Complications occurred in 6 patients (20.6%) of these 3 had (10.3%) bleeding, 2 (6.8%) had pancreatitis, and 1 had (3.4%) perforation. Four patients (13.7%) had a recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Deep resection of the benign ampullary lesions increases the complete resection rate, cannulation rate of the pancreatic duct, and stenting rate of the pancreatic duct. EA is a safe and successful procedure in patients with benign lesions of ampulla vater.

Robotic limited local resection of duodenal juxta-ampullary neoplasms

BACKGROUND

The unique and complex anatomical location of duodenal juxta-ampullary neoplasms complicates selection of the appropriate surgical strategy. For benign or borderline tumours, surgical local resection can be an appropriate treatment option, and robotic surgical systems can help perform minimally invasive local resection of these lesions.

METHODS

Between December 2014 and December 2019, 10 patients who underwent robotic local resections for duodenal juxta-ampullary tumours were reviewed.

RESULTS

All patients successfully underwent robotic local resection of the duodenum, preserving the ampulla of Vater without conversion. The mean tumour size was 2.2 cm. Final pathology consisted of gastrointestinal stromal tumour, neuroendocrine tumour, low grade and high grade dysplasia, ectopic pancreas, and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (T1a). There were no postoperative complications or recurrences.

CONCLUSION

With accurate preoperative diagnosis and careful selection of patients, local resection of the duodenum for juxta-ampullary benign or borderline tumours using robotic surgical system is an attractive treatment option.

Novel endoscopic papillectomy for reducing postoperative adverse events (with videos)

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic adenoma can potentially transform into adenocarcinoma, so it is recommended to be resected surgically or endoscopically. Endoscopic papillectomy is one of the main treatments for papillary adenoma, and bleeding, perforation, and pancreatitis are the most frequent and critical adverse events that restrict its wider use. There is no standard procedure for endoscopic papillectomy yet. The procedure is relevant to postoperative adverse events.

AIM

To reduce the postoperative adverse event rates and improve patients’ postoperative condition, we developed a standard novel procedure for endoscopic papillectomy.

METHODS

The novel endoscopic papillectomy had two main modifications based on the conventional method: The isolation of bile from pancreatic juice with a bile duct stent and wound surface protection with metal clips and fibrin glue. We performed a single-center retrospective comparison study on the novel and conventional methods to examine the feasibility of the novel method for reducing postoperative adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 76 patients, of whom 23 underwent the novel procedure and 53 underwent the conventional procedure, were retrospectively evaluated in this study. The postoperative bleeding and pancreatitis rates of the novel method were significantly lower than those of the conventional method (0 vs 20.75%, P = 0.028, and 17.4% vs 41.5%, P = 0.042, respectively). After applying the novel method, the most critical adverse event, perforation, was entirely prevented, compared to a prevalence of 5.66% with the conventional method. Several postoperative symptoms, including fever, rapid pulse, and decrease in hemoglobin level, were significantly less frequent in the novel group (P = 0.042, 0.049, and 0.014, respectively). Overall, the total adverse event rate of the novel method was lower (0 vs 24.5%, P = 0.007) than that of the conventional method.

CONCLUSION

Patients who underwent the novel procedure had lower postoperative adverse event rates. This study demonstrates the potential efficacy and safety of the novel endoscopic papillectomy in reducing postoperative adverse events.

Relationship between Cancer Diagnosis and Complications Following Pancreatoduodenectomy for Duodenal Adenoma

BACKGROUND

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for duodenal adenoma (DA) resection may be associated with excessive surgical risk for patients with potentially benign lesions, given the absence of pancreatic duct obstruction. We examined factors associated with final malignant pathology and evaluated the postoperative course of patients with DA versus pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with DA who underwent PD from 2008 to 2018 and assessed the accuracy rate of preoperative biopsy and factors associated with final malignant pathology. Complications for DA patients were compared with those of matched PDAC patients.

RESULTS

Forty-five consecutive patients who underwent PD for DA were identified, and the preoperative biopsy false negative rate was 29. Factors associated with final malignant pathology included age over 70 years, preoperative biliary obstruction, and common bile duct diameter > 8 mm (p < 0.05). Compared with patients with PDAC (n = 302), DA patients experienced more major complications (31% vs. 15%, p < 0.01), more grade C postoperative pancreatic fistulas (9% vs. 1%, p < 0.01), and greater mortality (7% vs. 2%, p < 0.05). Propensity score matched patients with DA had more major complications following PD (32% vs. 12%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative biopsy of duodenal adenomas is associated with a high false-negative rate for malignancy, and PD for DA is associated with higher complication rates than PD for PDAC. These results aid discussion among patients and surgeons who are considering observation versus PD for DA, especially in younger patients without biliary obstruction, who are less likely to harbor malignancy.

Transduodenal Ampullectomy for Ampullary Adenomas: A Safe and Effective Procedure with Long-term Salutary Outcomes

With widespread use of endoscopy, ampullary adenomas are more frequently identified, many of which are not amenable to endoscopic resection. Pancreatoduodenctomy is curative for these lesions but carries high morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of transduodenal ampullectomy for these lesions. Data were collected on 32 patients who underwent transduodenal ampullectomy from 2002 to 2010. The median age of patients was 64 years. Adenomas were found because of abdominal pain in 34 per cent, jaundice in 22 per cent, and incidentally on endoscopic screening in 16 per cent and on computed tomography scan of the abdomen in 9 per cent. All patients had a preoperative diagnosis of premalignant disease; 6 per cent required intraoperative conversion to pancreaticoduodenectomy after frozen section evaluation documented carcinoma. Of ampullectomies, 97 per cent had clear margins. Follow-up was 28 months. Four (13%) patients developed recurrent disease at 4 years, 2 years, 1.5 years, and 4 months; all had clear margins at ampullectomy and underwent subsequent pancreaticoduodenectomy with invasive malignancy in a single patient. After preoperative biopsy documenting premalignant disease, malignancy at ampullectomy is unusual. Recurrence is uncommon but occurs even with clear margins necessitating diligent follow-up; even with diligent follow-up, recurrence can be malignant.

Endoscopic papillectomy of benign papillary tumors: A single-center experience

Endoscopic treatment of duodenal papillary tumors is well described. This study aims to provide new evidence for the treatment of benign papillary tumors through comparisons between endoscopic snare papillectomy (ESP) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).Between May 2010 and December 2017, 72 patients were enrolled. Diagnosis and treatment procedures were ESP and EMR. Endoscopic follow-up evaluation was done periodically as a surveillance measurement for recurrence.Seventy-two patients with ampullary tumors were enrolled, of which 66 had adenomas including 9 high-grade intraepithelial neoplasias and 2 carcinomas in adenoma. Complete resections with tumor-free lateral and basal margins were achieved in all patients. Postoperative complications were bleeding (9.5% in EMR vs 10% in ESP) and pancreatitis (2.4% in EMR and 3.3% in ESP), with no occurrence of perforation, cholangitis or papillary stenosis. Adenoma recurrence was found in 7 patients (14.3% in EMR vs 3.3% in ESP) at 1 year.The ESP procedure is safe and effective for benign ampullary adenoma, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasias, and noninvasive cancer without intraductal tumor growth, which has a shorter procedural duration, as well as lower complication, recurrence rates and hospitalization costs.

Effect of preventive closure of the frenulum after endoscopic papillectomy: A prospective pilot study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The usefulness of preventive closure of the frenulum after endoscopic papillectomy (EP) could reduce bleeding. The feasibility and safety of clipping were evaluated in this prospective pilot study.

METHODS

This study involved 40 consecutive patients who underwent preventive closure of the frenulum by clipping just after EP. The outcome data were compared with those of the previous 40 patients in whom no preemptive closure had been performed (no-closure group) (UMIN000014783). Additionally, the bleeding sites were examined.

RESULTS

The clipping procedure was successful in all patients. As compared to the no-closure group, the rate of bleeding (P = 0.026) and period of hospital stay (P < 0.001) were significantly reduced in the closure group. There was no difference in the procedure time between the two groups. Furthermore, the incidence rates of pancreatitis and perforation were comparable in the two groups. The bleeding was noted in the frenulum area rather than at any other site in 90.9% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Preventive closure of the frenulum after EP is an effective, safe, rational, and economical method to reduce the incidence of delayed bleeding, without prolonging the procedure time or increasing the risk of post-procedure pancreatitis perforation.

Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability in the Assessment of Dysplasia in Ampullary Mucosal Biopsies

Endoscopic mucosal biopsies of the ampulla of Vater (AmpBx) are obtained to histologically assess for dysplasia or carcinoma. However, biopsy material is often scant and a host of factors can induce histologic changes that pose diagnostic challenges. We sought to investigate observer variability in interpretation of AmpBx and the impact clinical data may have on diagnostic interpretation. Thirty-one cases from institutional archives were selected, including 12 cases of reactive atypia (RA), 8 indefinite for dysplasia (ID), and 11 showing low-grade dysplasia (LGD). Slides were independently reviewed at 3 time points with and without clinical information by 6 pathologists who categorized the biopsies RA, ID, or LGD. Following the reviews, intraobserver and interobserver agreement was assessed. Review of AmpBx without clinical data showed fair (κ, 0.27), poor (κ, 0.07), and good (κ, 0.42) interobserver agreement for diagnoses of RA, ID, and LGD, respectively. Interobserver agreement improved for LGD (κ, 0.66 and 0.73) when clinical information was provided; however, agreement remained fair for RA (κ, 0.4 and 0.42) and poor-to-fair for ID (κ, 0.17 and 0.25). When follow-up data were reviewed, all cases that reached unanimous agreement had that diagnosis substantiated by subsequent endoscopic or histologic findings. The same was true of 13 of 19 cases that reached majority consensus. Given the potential clinical consequences of these diagnoses combined with the significant intraobserver and interobserver variability found in this study, we conclude that better-defined diagnostic criteria and consensus reads on difficult cases would assist in the histologic assessment of these challenging cases.

Robotic Surgery for Benign and Low-Grade Malignant Diseases of the Duodenum

Robotic duodenal surgery (RDS) is a treatment option for many benign and low-grade malignant duodenal conditions that are not amenable to endoscopic intervention and can avoid morbidity related to open surgery. A retrospective review of all patients undergoing RDS (non-Whipple) at a tertiary care center from 2010–2017 was carried out. Indications, procedural details, and outcomes were reviewed. Twenty-four patients underwent RDS during the study period: transduodenal resection in 6 patients (25%), wedge resection in 6 patients (25%), transduodenal ampullectomy in 5 patients (21%), sleeve (segmental) resection in 5 patients (21%), duodenojejunostomy bypass in 1 patient (4%), and duodenal diverticulectomy in 1 patient (4%). Median age was 68 years, 54 per cent were male, and median BMI was 27. Adenoma was the most common diagnosis (68%) followed by neuroendocrine tumor (25%), duodenal diverticulum (4%), and refractory superior mesenteric artery syndrome (4%). Seventy-one per cent were symptomatic with gastroinstestinal bleed being the most common presentation. Median tumor size was 27 mm, and the most common location was D2 (58%) followed by D3/D4 (25%) and D1 (17%). Median operating time was 205 minutes and estimated blood loss was 50cc with no patient requiring intraoperative transfusion. Median length of stay was five days (3–21 days). Overall complication rate was 41 per cent (10/24): minor biliopancreatic leak in three patients; ileus in three patients; bleeding, arrhythmia, hypoxia, and headache in one patient each. Three (12%) patients had significant complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3) requiring laparoscopic or robotic reoperation, but all three were discharged on or before POD 6 with resolution of complication. Ninety-day readmission rate was 8 per cent and 90-day mortality was 0. Recurrent disease or strictures were not seen in any patient after a median follow-up of 16 months. It has been concluded that RDS is a safe alternative to open or laparoscopic duodenal resection for benign and low-grade malignant conditions not amenable to endoscopic intervention.

Robotic transduodenal ampullectomy: A novel minimally invasive approach for ampullary neoplasms

BACKGROUND

The adoption of minimally invasive surgery for transduodenal ampullectomy has been slow because of special characteristics and complexity of this procedure.

METHODS

Six patients underwent robotic transduodenal ampullectomy. We employed novel methods to facilitate exposure of the ampulla.

RESULTS

All patients completed robotic transduodenal ampullectomy, but one patient was immediately converted to robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy because of presence of invasive carcinoma on frozen biopsy. The final pathologic report revealed high-grade dysplasia in four patients, low-grade dyplasia in one, and T2N0 in one patient who converted to pancreaticoduodenectomy. There was no immediate postoperative complication or mortality. One patient was readmitted after 3 months because of stricture of the bile duct outlet. There was no recurrence over a median follow-up period of 20 months.

CONCLUSION

An appropriate combination of patient positioning and retraction method helps the robot surgical system to provide competent performance for sophisticated and precise manipulation of ampullary lesions.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of non-ampullary sporadic duodenal adenomas: a retrospective analysis with long-term follow-up

OBJECTIVE

We investigate the efficiency of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of non-ampullary sporadic duodenal adenomas (NASDA) in a retrospective analysis with long-term follow-up.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing EMR of NASDA between May 2002 and December 2016 were retrospectively identified from an electronic database. Endoscopic follow-up was scheduled after 3, 6 and 12 months for the first year, then yearly for up to five years.

RESULTS

EMR of 75 NASDA was performed in 68 patients (56% en-bloc, 44% piecemeal). Retroperitoneal perforations occurred in 3/68 (4.4%) patients, were treated by surgical (n = 2) or percutaneous (n = 1) drainage; delayed bleeding was reported in 13/75 (17.3%) resections and was successfully managed by endoscopy (n = 12) or radiologic embolization (n = 1). There was no procedure-related mortality. Follow-up was available in 61/68 patients (89.7%) after a median time of 59 months from resection. Residual and recurrent adenoma were diagnosed in 9 (14.5%) and 6 (10.9%) cases, respectively; all but one were successfully retreated endoscopically.

CONCLUSIONS

EMR for NASDA is effective with a favorable long-term outcome. Local recurrences can be retreated endoscopically. A recall system, patient's compliance to endoscopic follow-up are mandatory to detect recurrences and their prompt treatment.

Endoscopic and surgical management of nonampullary duodenal neoplasms

BACKGROUND

Sporadic nonampullary duodenal neoplasms (SNADN) can have malignant potential for which endoscopic and surgical resections are offered. We report combined gastroenterologic and surgical experience for treatment of SNADN, including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and pancreas-preserving partial duodenectomy (PPPD).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 121 consecutive patients, who underwent 30 PPPDs and 91 EMRs for mucosal and submucosal SNADN. Decision to undergo EMR or surgical resection was based on expert endoscopist and surgeon discretion including multidisciplinary tumor board review. Main outcomes were recurrence rate of neoplasia and adverse events requiring hospital admission or prolonged care. EMRs were performed with submucosal lifting followed by snare resection. PPPD included total duodenectomy, supra-ampullary PPPD for neoplasms proximal to the ampulla, and infra-ampullary PPPD for lesions distal to the ampulla. Follow-up data were available for 65% of EMR and 73% of surgical patients.

RESULTS

Surgically resected neoplasia was larger with more advanced neoplasia and submucosal lesions. En bloc resection was achieved in all surgical resections and in 53% of EMRs. Post-EMR, mucosal and submucosal neoplasia recurred in 32 and 0%, respectively, including five neoplasms (26%) after an initial negative esophagogastroduodenoscopy. All recurrences were treated endoscopically. Complications occurred in 14 endoscopically and eight surgically treated patients, none requiring surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-EMR patients had higher recurrence of mucosal neoplasia, whereas submucosal neoplasms, mainly carcinoid, did not recur. Polyp size and positive resection margin were not associated with neoplasia recurrence. Patients with SNADN could benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to stratify the optimal treatment based on local expertise.

Safety of duodenal ampullectomy for benign periampullary tumors

Backgrounds/Aims

Surgical resection, such as pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), is used for treatment of benign periampullary tumors, but high morbidity and mortality resulting from PD can be a huddle. The aim of this study is to suggest a safe and less invasive procedure for treatment of benign periampullary tumors.

Methods

From January 2001 to September 2016, 31 patients with ampulla of Vater (AOV) tumors were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who were confirmed with malignancy through biopsy were excluded, except for one patient with malignancy and multiple underlying diseases. To investigate the safety and availability of transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA), TDA and endoscopic papillectomy (EP) were compared.

Results

There was no significant difference in the occurrence of complications between the TDA group and EP group (p=0.145), and the resection margins were negative in both groups. There was no recurrence in patients who had TDA, while one patient had a recurrence after EP.

Conclusions

This study suggests that TDA is as safe as EP for treating benign periampullary tumors.

Endoscopic ampullectomy: a technical review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This article provides a practical review to undertaking safe endoscopic ampullectomy and highlights some of the common difficulties with this technique as well as offering strategies to deal with these challenges.

METHODS

We conducted a review of studies regarding endoscopic ampullectomy for ampullary neoplasms with special focus on techniques.

RESULTS

Accurate preoperative diagnosis and staging of ampullary tumors is imperative for predicting prognosis and determining the most appropriate therapeutic approach. The optimal technique for endoscopic ampullectomy is dependent on the lesions size. En bloc resection is recommended for lesions confined to the papilla. There is no significant evidence to support the submucosal injection before ampullectomy. There is no consensus regarding the optimal current and power output for endoscopic ampulectomy. The benefits of a thermal adjunctive therapy remain controversial. A prophylactic pancreatic stent reduces the incidence and severity of pancreatitis post-ampullectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic ampullectomy is a safe and efficacious therapeutic procedure for papillary adenomas in experienced endoscopist and it can avoid the need for surgical intervention.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with ampullary biopsy vs ERCP alone: a matched-pairs controlled evaluation of outcomes and complications

Background and aims

Biopsy of the ampulla of Vater may be performed to evaluate for ampullary adenomas, suspected ampullary tumors and immunohistological staining for autoimmune pancreatitis. Ampullary biopsies are commonly performed at the time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Due to the well-established complication rate following ERCP, the contribution of ampullary biopsy as a potential independent risk factor would require a controlled comparison.

Methods

A matched-pairs, case-control analysis was performed for patients undergoing ERCP with or without ampullary biopsy. The analysis involved a retrospective review of adult patients at a tertiary-care center who underwent ampullary biopsies during ERCP compared (via procedural complexity) with a matched control group who underwent ERCP without ampullary biopsies.

Results

Of 159 procedures involving ampullary biopsy, 54 ERCPs that met the inclusion criteria were performed with ampullary biopsy and included in the analysis cohort. This cohort was compared with 54 patients undergoing ERCP without ampullary biopsy, matched by American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) grade of procedural complexity. There were no patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Ampullary biopsies suggested a diagnosis in 75.9% of the procedures including 12 adenomas, 5 adenocarcinomas and 1 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Including major and minor complications, the overall complication rate with biopsy (9.3%) was equivalent to the complication rate in the control group without ampullary biopsy (9.3%, P>0.99). The incidence of post-procedure pancreatitis was not significantly different between the two groups (5.6% vs 3.7%, P=0.6). Age and pancreatic duct manipulation, but not ampullary biopsy, were associated with complications on multivariate analysis in the study population.

Conclusions

Ampullary biopsy performed during ERCP had a high diagnostic yield and was not associated with an increased rate of post-procedure complications or pancreatitis when compared with ERCP alone.

Small Bowel Neoplasms and Polyps

The small intestine is a relatively privileged organ that only rarely develops malignant or even benign tumors. Given this rarity, the relative inaccessibility of the organ during routine endoscopic procedures, and the typical absence or nonspecific nature of clinical manifestations, these tumors often go undiagnosed. Treatment and prognosis are tailored to each histological subtype of tumor. This chapter will discuss the epidemiology, presentation, diagnostics, and management for the most common small bowel tumors, and will highlight the importance of recognizing patients at higher risk of small bowel neoplasia.

Endoscopic management of mucosal lesions in the gastrointestinal tract

With the increasing role of endoscopy in patient evaluation, more mucosal lesions, including gastric, duodenal and colonic polyps, are encountered during routine examinations. It is imperative for gastroenterologists to become familiar with the endoscopic management of these various gastrointestinal lesions. In this article, various resection techniques will be discussed, including hot/cold forceps polypectomy, hot/cold snare polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and endoscopic submucosal dissection. The article will also discuss the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of these techniques and the future direction of endoscopic management of mucosal lesions in the gastrointestinal tract.

Does ampullary adenoma size predict invasion on EUS? Does invasion on EUS predict presence of malignancy?

Background and study aims: It is common practice to perform ampullectomy without endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for ampullary lesions < 1 cm but no data exists to support it. No studies have explored whether EUS findings of invasion correlate with malignancy or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) on pathology. We explored the association between adenoma size, pathology results, and invasion on EUS.  Patients and methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study at a large tertiary care academic hospital. Chart review was performed for 161 patients with benign ampullary lesions on endoscopic biopsy (identified by pathology records). The primary outcomes were mean size (mm) of adenomas and pathology findings with and without intraductal and/or duodenal wall invasion on EUS.  Results: Invasion was identified by EUS in 41 (34.1 %) of 120 patients who underwent EUS. The mean size of the lesion in these patients was 20.9 mm (± 11.6 mm) compared to 13.9 mm (± 11.3 mm, P = 0.0001) in patients without invasion. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC 0.73, 95 % CI 0.63 - 0.83) revealed 100 % sensitivity for absence of invasion on EUS in lesions less than 6.5 mm. Invasion on EUS had sensitivity of 63.0 % (95 % CI 47.0 % - 77.0 %) and specificity 88.0 % (95 % CI 78.0 % - 95.0 %) for presence of malignancy, HGD or invasion on pathology. Conclusions: EUS should be considered for ampullary lesions > 6.5 mm. This study provides evidence to support the practice of ampullectomy without EUS for smaller adenomas. EUS evidence of invasion is highly specific for pathologic malignancy, HGD, or invasion (which preclude endoscopic ampullectomy).

Safety and efficacy of EMR for sporadic, nonampullary duodenal adenomas: a single U.S. center experience (with video)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

EMR is increasingly used for resection of sporadic, nonampullary duodenal adenomas (SNDAs), but there are no guidelines for the management of these lesions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EMR exclusively for SNDAs and to determine the factors predictive of outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients with SNDAs referred for endoscopic therapy from 2006 to 2013. The outcomes studied were successful endoscopic resection, major adverse events, early and late recurrences, and clinical remission.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight patients with SNDAs were included and 51 (75%) underwent EMR. The mean adenoma size was 22.0 ± 8.9 mm. Successful resection was achieved in 49 of 51 patients (96.1%), and major adverse events were noted in 8 of 51 patients (15.7%). Early and late recurrences were noted in 25.6% and 5.2% of patients, respectively, and were treated endoscopically. Clinical remission was achieved in 89.7% of patients after a median follow-up of 15 months. Presence of villous histology was associated with increased recurrence (P = .019), but no association of recurrence was noted with other endoscopic features or resection technique. Large adenoma size (P = .0057) and need for intraprocedural hemostasis (P = .006) were associated with increased adverse events, but no association of adverse events was noted with location or resection technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Large duodenal adenomas can be effectively managed with EMR at a referral center with experienced endoscopists. However, EMR has a significant recurrence rate, especially early recurrence, and the risk of adverse events is not negligible. Endoscopic therapy is successful in managing recurrent adenomas.

Endoscopic papillectomy and KRAS expression in the treatment of adenoma in the major duodenal papilla

OBJECTIVE

The use of endoscopic papillectomy for resecting adenomas in the major duodenal papilla is increasing. This study focuses on the following three issues: Can endoscopic papillectomy be performed as a safe diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedure in biopsy-verified or suspected ampullary adenoma? Does expression of mutated KRAS in resected adenomatous tissue predict long-term outcome? What other factors may affect long-term outcome and should, therefore, be considered in decision making prior to endoscopic papillectomy?

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-six prospectively collected patients who underwent endoscopic papillectomy at Karolinska University Hospital between 2005 and 2014 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The rate of exact agreement between the histomorphological grading of the endoscopic biopsies and the papillectomy specimens was low (48%). Obstructive jaundice at presentation increased the risk of undetected adenocarcinoma (RR = 3.98; 95% CI = 1.46-10.85, p = 0.007). Lesions with malignancies were significantly larger (mean 30.6 mm) than those where only adenomas were found (mean 14.4 mm, p = 0.001). Mutated KRAS was detected in 9 of the 36 post-papillectomy specimens, including 4 of the 5 cases of ampullary adenocarcinoma. Eighteen cases were endoscopically cured after a mean follow-up period of 47 months (range 16-92 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic papillectomy is a valuable staging tool because of the limitations of endoscopic biopsy. Endoscopic papillectomy concomitantly offers a curative treatment for most patients with adenoma in the major duodenal papilla. Jaundice at presentation and large adenomas may indicate the presence of more advanced disease. Determination of mutated KRAS seems to be of limited value in predicting long-term outcome.

Approach to the endoscopic resection of duodenal lesions

Duodenal polyps or lesions are uncommonly found on upper endoscopy. Duodenal lesions can be categorized as subepithelial or mucosally-based, and the type of lesion often dictates the work-up and possible therapeutic options. Subepithelial lesions that can arise in the duodenum include lipomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and carcinoids. Endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration is useful in the characterization and diagnosis of subepithelial lesions. Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors and large or multifocal carcinoids are best managed by surgical resection. Brunner's gland tumors, solitary Peutz-Jeghers polyps, and non-ampullary and ampullary adenomas are mucosally-based duodenal lesions, which can require removal and are typically amenable to endoscopic resection. Several anatomic characteristics of the duodenum make endoscopic resection of duodenal lesions challenging. However, advanced endoscopic techniques exist that enable the resection of large mucosally-based duodenal lesions. Endoscopic papillectomy is not without risk, but this procedure can effectively resect ampullary adenomas and allows patients to avoid surgery, which typically involves pancreaticoduodenectomy. Endoscopic mucosal resection and its variations (such as cap-assisted, cap-band-assisted, and underwater techniques) enable the safe and effective resection of most duodenal adenomas. Endoscopic submucosal dissection is possible but very difficult to safely perform in the duodenum.

Endoscopic versus surgical treatment of ampullary adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study is to address the outcomes of endoscopic resection compared with surgery in the treatment of ampullary adenomas. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. For this purpose, the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scopus and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases were scanned. Studies included patients with ampullary adenomas and data considering endoscopic treatment compared with surgery. The entire analysis was based on a fixed-effects model. Five retrospective cohort studies were selected (466 patients). All five studies (466 patients) had complete primary resection data available and showed a difference that favored surgical treatment (risk difference [RD] = -0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.44 to -0.04). Primary success data were identified in all five studies as well. Analysis showed that the surgical approach outperformed endoscopic treatment for this outcome (RD = -0.37, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.24). Recurrence data were found in all studies (466 patients), with a benefit indicated for surgical treatment (RD = 0.10, 95% CI = -0.01 to 0.19). Three studies (252 patients) presented complication data, but analysis showed no difference between the approaches for this parameter (RD = -0.15, 95% CI = -0.53 to 0.23). Considering complete primary resection, primary success and recurrence outcomes, the surgical approach achieves significantly better results. Regarding complication data, this systematic review concludes that rates are not significantly different.

Preoperative endoscopic diagnosis of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors, including magnifying endoscopy

Superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumor (SNADET) is defined as a sporadic tumor that is confined to the mucosa or submucosa that does not arise from Vater's papilla, and it includes adenoma and adenocarcinoma. Recent developments in endoscopic technology, such as high-resolution endoscopy and image-enhanced endoscopy, may increase the chances of detecting SNADET lesions. However, because SNADET is rare, little is known about its preoperative endoscopic diagnosis. The use of endoscopic resection for SNADET, which has no risk of metastasis, is increasing, but the incidence of complications, such as perforation, is significantly higher than in any other part of the digestive tract. A preoperative diagnosis is required to distinguish between lesions that should be followed up and those that require treatment. Retrospective studies have revealed certain endoscopic findings that suggest malignancy. In recent years, several new imaging modalities have been developed and explored for real-time diagnosis of these lesion types. Establishing an endoscopic diagnostic tool to differentiate between adenoma and adenocarcinoma in SNADET lesions is required to select the most appropriate treatment. This review describes the current state of knowledge about preoperative endoscopic diagnosis of SNADETs, such as duodenal adenoma and duodenal adenocarcinoma. Newer endoscopic techniques, including magnifying endoscopy, may help to guide these diagnostics, but their additional advantages remain unclear, and further studies are required to clarify these issues.

A Patient with Duodenal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma Presenting as a Laterally Spreading Tumor

Primary duodenal carcinoma is rare. Duodenal mucinous adenocarcinoma (DMA) is even rarer, and its associated manifestations and typical endoscopic or imaging findings are not well characterized. Herein, we report a case of primary DMA in an asymptomatic 58-year-old man who visited our hospital for a regular health screening. Upper endoscopy revealed an approximately 4-cm lesion in the second portion of the duodenum, but the mass was not visualized on computed tomography. Biopsies revealed a tubular adenoma that was subsequently resected. Frozen biopsies demonstrated DMA with a background of low-grade tubular adenoma for which we performed Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with DMA in Korea.

Feasibility and safety of endoscopic cryoablation at the duodenal papilla: Porcine model

AIM: To assess the feasibility and safety of liquid nitrogen spray cryoablation at the duodenal papilla in a porcine model.

METHODS: This prospective study protocol was approved by the University of Florida Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Six pigs underwent liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy at the duodenal papilla. Freeze time of 20-s was applied per cycle (4 cycles/session). Survival animals (n = 4) were monitored for adverse events. Hemoglobin, white blood count, liver tests, and lipase were obtained at baseline and post-treatment. EGD was performed on day#7 to evaluate the papilla and for histology. All animals were euthanized and necropsy was performed at the end of the one-week survival period. Feasibility was defined as successful placement of the decompression tube in the duodenum, followed by delivery of spray cryotherapy to the duodenal papilla. Safety was determined by monitoring post-treatment blood tests and clinical course. Treatment effect was defined as endoscopic and histologic changes after cryotherapy. This was established by comparing endoscopic and histologic findings from mucosal biopsies prior to cryotherapy and on post-operative day (POD)#7. Full-thickness specimen was obtained post-mortem to assess depth of injury.

RESULTS: Spray cryotherapy was feasible and successfully performed in all 6/6 (100%) animals. Cryospray with liquid nitrogen (four 20-s freeze-thaw cycles) at the duodenal papilla resulted in white frost formation at and around the target region. The mean procedural time was 54.5 min (range 50-58 min). All six animals studied had stable blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse oximetry measurements during the procedure. There were no significant intra-procedural adverse events. There were no significant differences in hemoglobin, white cell count, liver tests or lipase from baseline to post-cryotherapy. Survival animals were monitored daily post-operatively without any clinical ill effects from the cryotherapy. There was no bleeding, infection, or perforation on necropsy. Endoscopic on POD#7 showed edema and ulceration at the duodenal papilla. On histology, there was loss of crypt architecture with moderate to severe necrosis and acute mixed inflammatory infiltration in each specimen following cryotherapy. The extent of cryogen-induced tissue necrosis (depth of injury) was limited to the mucosa on full-thickness specimen evaluation.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy is feasible and safe for ablation at the duodenal papilla in a porcine model.

Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection in the treatment of sporadic nonampullary duodenal adenomatous polyps

Although uncommon, sporadic nonampullary duodenal adenomas have a growing detection due to the widespread of endoscopy. Endoscopic therapy is being increasingly used for these lesions, since surgery, considered the standard treatment, carries significant morbidity and mortality. However, the knowledge about its risks and benefits is limited, which contributes to the current absence of standardized recommendations. This review aims to discuss the efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the treatment of these lesions. A literature review was performed, using the Pubmed database with the query: “(duodenum or duodenal) (endoscopy or endoscopic) adenoma resection”, in the human species and in English. Of the 189 retrieved articles, and after reading their abstracts, 19 were selected due to their scientific interest. The analysis of their references, led to the inclusion of 23 more articles for their relevance in this subject. The increased use of EMR in the duodenum has shown good results with complete resection rates exceeding 80% and low complication risk (delayed bleeding in less than 12% of the procedures). Although rarely used in the duodenum, ESD achieves close to 100% complete resection rates, but is associated with perforation and bleeding risk in up to one third of the cases. Even though literature is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions, studies suggest that EMR and ESD are valid options for the treatment of nonampullary adenomas. Thus, strategies to improve these techniques, and consequently increase the effectiveness and safety of the resection of these lesions, should be developed.

Segmental duodenal resection: indications, surgical techniques and postoperative outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Segmental duodenal resections (DR) have been increasingly performed for the treatment of primary duodenal tumours. The aim of the study is to review the indications for, clinical and operative details, and outcomes of patients undergoing elective DR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent elective segmental DR for the treatment of primary duodenal tumours, at a single institution between January 2007 and December 2013. Demographic data, clinical presentation, preoperative investigations, operative details, postoperative complications/mortality and histopathological results were recorded.

RESULTS

In the study period, 11 duodenal resections were performed (7 male, median age 61 years). Thirty-six percent of the patients presented with anaemia. Surgical resection included two or more segments in seven patients. The most frequently resected part of the duodenum was segment 3 (n = 7). Median operative time was 191 min and blood loss was 675 ml. End-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses were performed in equal numbers. The pathology of resected specimens included adenocarcinoma (n = 4), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) (n = 1), adenoma (n = 5) and lymphoma (n = 1). Median hospital stay was 14 days. Overall, 30-day morbidity rate was 82% (78% Clavien 2 or less).

CONCLUSIONS

Segmental duodenal resection is a safe and effective surgical technique for the resection of primary duodenal tumours.

Tips and tricks in endoscopic papillectomy of ampullary tumors: single-center experience with large case series (with videos)

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been recognized as a safe and reliable treatment for ampullary adenomas. In this article, we describe important tips and tricks in EP of ampullary tumors on the basis of our large case series outcome. Between May 1999 and April 2014, 115 patients underwent EP at Tokyo Medical University hospital. The mean tumor diameter was 16.2 (6-35) mm. The final pathological diagnoses were adenoma, cancer in adenoma, cancer, and hyperplasia in 85, 13, 10, and seven patients, respectively. "En bloc" or "piecemeal" EP was performed with a polypectomy snare forceps using "Endocut® mode". Prophylactic pancreatic duct stents were placed after EP. Consequently, a single treatment session was possible in 93 (80.9%) patients. Additional treatment was required in the remaining 22 (19.1%) patients. For these 22 patients, the postresection pathological diagnoses were adenoma in 15 patients and cancer in seven patients. Two patients with cancer and venous permeation required surgical operation. The final complete resection rate was 98.2%. Several complications observed included pancreatitis (10.4%), bleeding (18.2%), perforation (2.6%), cholangitis (1.7%), and papillary stenosis (4.3%). One patient died of procedure-related complications. In conclusion, endoscopic papillectomy showed a high technical success rate. However, possible complications and occasional fatal complications should be considered when using EP.

Robotic surgery for benign duodenal tumors

INTRODUCTION

Benign duodenal and periampullary tumors are uncommon lesions requiring careful attention to their complex anatomic relationships with the major and minor papillae as well as the gastric outlet during surgical intervention. While endoscopy is less morbid than open resection, many lesions are not amenable to endoscopic removal. Robotic surgery offers technical advantages above traditional laparoscopy, and we demonstrate the safety and feasibility of this approach for a variety of duodenal lesions.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all robotic duodenal resections between April 2010 and December 2013 from two institutions. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and operative details were recorded with special attention to the post-operative course.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients underwent robotic duodenal resection for a variety of diagnoses. The majority (88 %) were symptomatic at presentation. Nine patients underwent transduodenal ampullectomy, seven patients underwent duodenal resection, six patients underwent transduodenal resection of a mass, and four patients underwent segmental duodenal resection. Median operative time was 4 h with a median estimated blood loss of 50 cm(3) and no conversions to an open operation. The rate of major Clavien-Dindo grades 3-4 complications was 15 % at post-operative days 30 and 90 without mortality. Final pathology demonstrated a median tumor size of 2.9 cm with a final histologic diagnoses of adenoma (n = 13), neuroendocrine tumor (n = 6), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (n = 2), lipoma (n = 2), Brunner's gland hamartoma (n = 1), leiomyoma (n = 1), and gangliocytic paraganglioma (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Robotic duodenal resection is safe and feasible for benign and premalignant duodenal tumors not amenable to endoscopic resection.

Performance characteristics of EUS for locoregional evaluation of ampullary lesions

BACKGROUND

The accuracy of EUS in the locoregional assessment of ampullary lesions is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To compare EUS with ERCP and surgical pathology for the evaluation of intraductal extension and local staging of ampullary lesions.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary-care referral center.

PATIENTS

All patients who underwent EUS primarily for the evaluation of an ampullary lesion between 1998 and 2012.

INTERVENTION

EUS.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Comparison of EUS sensitivity/specificity for intraductal and local extension with ERCP and surgical pathology by using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curves and outcomes of the subgroup referred for endoscopic papillectomy.

RESULTS

We identified 119 patients who underwent EUS for an ampullary lesion, of whom 99 (83%) had an adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Compared with ERCP (n = 90), the sensitivity/specificity of EUS for any intraductal extension was 56%/97% (AUROC = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.89). However, when using surgical pathology as the reference (n = 102), the sensitivity/specificity of EUS (80%/93%; AUROC = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.97) and ERCP (83%/93%; AUROC = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77-0.99) were comparable. The overall accuracy of EUS for local staging was 90%. Of 58 patients referred for endoscopic papillectomy, complete resection was achieved in 53 (91%); in those having intraductal extension by EUS or ERCP, complete resection was achieved in 4 of 5 (80%) and 4 of 7 (57%), respectively.

LIMITATION

Retrospective design.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS and ERCP perform similarly in evaluating intraductal extension of ampullary adenomas. Additionally, EUS is accurate in T-staging ampullary adenocarcinomas. Future prospective studies should evaluate whether EUS can identify characteristics of ampullary lesions that appropriately direct patients to endoscopic or surgical resection.

Recent advances in endoscopic papillectomy for ampulla of vater tumors: endoscopic ultrasonography, intraductal ultrasonography, and pancreatic stent placement

Since it was first described nearly three decades ago, endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been utilized as a less invasive, alternative therapy for adenoma of the major duodenal papilla. In this article, we review the recent advances in EP, especially those pertaining to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), and pancreatic stent placement for the prevention of postpapillectomy pancreatitis. Because EUS and IDUS have similar diagnostic accuracies, either modality can be used for the preprocedural evaluation of ampullary tumors. Nevertheless, further technical refinements are required for a more precise evaluation. Given the paucity of data on the usefulness of EUS and/or IDUS during follow-up after EP, a well-designed study is warranted. Furthermore, pancreatic stent placement appears to have a protective effect against postpapillectomy pancreatitis; however, a prospective, randomized, controlled study with a larger number of patients is needed to assess this finding. Moreover, since pancreatic stent placement after EP is not always successful, various novel techniques have been developed to ensure reliable stent placement. Despite the recent advances in EP, further technical refinements and studies are needed to confirm their efficacy.

Prospective study of acute complication rates and associated risk factors in endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas is becoming increasingly important. However, only a few studies have been published on the topic, mainly with retrospective data.

METHODS

This prospective study was carried out to determine complication rates and associated risk factors during and after endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas. Between May 2011 and October 2012, 50 patients (with 61 duodenal adenomas) were included. Sixty-one duodenal adenomas were resected endoscopically. Complications (e.g., bleeding, pain, fever, pancreatitis, and perforation) were recorded. Associations between bleeding and other factors--sex, age, anticoagulation, location and size of adenomas, etiology, lesion morphology, resection type, and argon plasma coagulation (APC) for bleeding prophylaxis--were then investigated.

RESULTS

Bleeding was the main complication. Major bleeding occurred in four cases (6.5%) and minor bleeding in 11 (18%). One occult perforation also occurred. There was a statistically significant association between bleeding and the size of the adenoma (P = 0.012). APC for bleeding prophylaxis showed a promising trend, with an odds ratio of 0.31, reducing the bleeding risk by two-thirds in this study. However, due to the small number of six patients that received bleeding prophylaxis with APC therapy, this result was not statistically significant (P = 0.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Bleeding is the main complication in endoscopic therapy for duodenal adenomas. The bleeding risk increases significantly with adenoma size. Prophylactic APC seems to reduce the bleeding rate--however, because of the relatively small number of patients treated with APC, this partial result was not statistically relevant. Due to the relevant rate of complications, endoscopic resection of duodenal adenomas is only recommended in an in-patient setting.

Staging accuracy of ampullary tumors by endoscopic ultrasound: meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Accurate preoperative staging of ampullary neoplasms is of paramount importance in predicting prognosis and determining the most appropriate therapeutic approach. The aim of the present review was to evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in predicting depth of ampullary tumor invasion (T-stage) and regional lymph node status (N-stage) by carrying out a meta-analysis of all relevant studies.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Medline and Scopus databases for all studies published between January 1980 and December 2012. Only EUS studies involving ≥ 10 patients with ampullary neoplasms, confirmed by surgical histopathology, with data available for construction of a 2 × 2 table were included.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 422 patients using the Mantel-Haenszel method was performed. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of EUS to diagnose T1-stage tumor were 77% (95% CI: 69-83) and 78% (95% CI: 72-84), respectively. Pooled sensitivity for T4 tumors was 84% (95% CI: 73-92) and specificity was 74% (95% CI: 63-83). Combined sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio for diagnosing nodal status were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.62-0.77), 0.74 (95% CI: 0.67-0.0.80), 2.49 (95% CI: 1.91-3.24), 0.46 (95% CI: 0.36-0.59) and 6.53 (95% CI: 3.81-11.19), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Based on our pooled estimates, EUS had a moderate strength of agreement with histopathology in preoperative staging of ampullary neoplasms in predicting tumor invasion and lymph node involvement. Additional refinement in EUS technologies and diagnostic criteria may be required to enhance staging accuracy.

Pancreatic intubation facilitated by methylene blue injection decreases the risk for postpapillectomy acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic snare papillectomy (ESP) is a viable alternative to surgical treatment of ampullary adenomas and T1N0 stage ampullary carcinomas. The main drawback of this technique is the high risk of acute pancreatitis post procedure.The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and long-term results of this procedure, and to determine whether routine pancreatic intubation facilitated by intraductal methylene blue (MB) injection reduces the risk for pancreatitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2004 and 2011, 56 consecutive patients underwent ESP. Before resection, the pancreatic duct was cannulated, and MB was injected intraductally to facilitate stent placement after ampullectomy.

RESULTS

ESP was performed en bloc in 45 patients with histological findings of low-grade dysplasia (39%), high-grade dysplasia (25%), carcinoma (32.5%), and others (3.5%). The morbidity rate was 19.5%: acute pancreatitis (n=6), bleeding (n=4), perforation (n=1), and sepsis (n=1). Pancreatic intubation was performed in 89% of the patients. Postprocedure pancreatitis occurred significantly less in the patients with a pancreatic stent than in those without: 3/49 versus 3/6, P=0.013. ESP was considered as curative in 39 patients (75%). Of the 12 recurrences (25%), 10 were managed endoscopically, but with higher morbidity (acute pancreatitis=40%).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic papillectomy is safe and effective in the hands of experts. Pancreatic-duct stent placement in fewer cannulation attempts could be facilitated by injection of MB before papillectomy, and this decreases the risk for postprocedure pancreatitis. Recurrences can be managed endoscopically, but with a higher risk for pancreatitis.