Ampullary tumors: endoscopic versus operative management

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.

Long-term Outcomes of Ampullary Adenoma According to Resected Margin Status after Endoscopic Papillectomy

Background/Aims

: Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is increasingly used as an alternative to surgery for managing benign ampullary neoplasms. However, post-EP resection margins are often positive or indeterminate, and there is no consensus on the management of ampullary adenomas with positive or indeterminate margins after EP. This study was designed to compare the long-term outcomes between resected margin-negative (RMN) and resected margin-positive/indeterminate (RMPI) groups and to identify factors associated with clinical outcomes.

Methods

: This retrospective analysis included patients with ampullary adenoma without evidence of adenocarcinoma who underwent EP between 2004 and 2016. The RMN and RMPI groups were compared for recurrence rates and recurrence-free duration during a mean follow-up duration of 71.7±39.8 months. Factors related to clinical outcomes were identified using multivariate analysis.

Results

: Of the 129 patients who underwent EP, 82 were in the RMN group and 47 were in the RMPI group. The RMPI group exhibited a higher recurrence rate compared to the RMN group (14.6% vs 34.0%, p=0.019). However, the recurrence-free duration was not significantly different between the groups (34.7±32.6 months vs 36.2±27.4 months, p=0.900). Endoscopic treatment successfully managed recurrence in both groups (75% vs 75%). Submucosal injection was a significant risk factor for residual lesions (hazard ratio, 4.11; p=0.009) and recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.57; p=0.021).

Conclusions

: Although ampullary adenomas with positive or indeterminate margins after EP showed a higher rate of recurrence at long-term follow-up, endoscopic treatment was effective with favorable long-term outcomes. Submucosal injection prior to resection was associated with increased risk of recurrence and residual lesions.

Multicenter comparative study on the usefulness of the optimal electrosurgical unit setting in endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary neoplasms (with video)

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is less invasive than surgery but procedure-related adverse events (AEs) still frequently occur. This study compared the benefits of EP using a new optimal endoCUT setting on the VIO (Erbe) electrosurgical unit (VIO-EP) with those using the conventional electrosurgical unit setting (ICC-EP, Erbe).

METHODS

This multicenter, retrospective, comparative cohort study included 57 patients who underwent VIO-EP and 91 who underwent ICC-EP. The primary outcome was occurrence of EP-related AEs. Secondary outcomes were pathological findings (the resection margins, the R0 resection, and residual lesions).

RESULTS

Pancreatitis tended to be less common in the VIO-EP group (5.3% vs. 9.9%, p = .248). Evaluation of computed tomography images showed that pancreatitis was confined to the pancreatic head in 77.8% of cases in the ICC-EP group and in 33.3% of those in the VIO-EP group. After exclusion of cases of delayed bleeding, pancreatitis tended to be less common in the VIO-EP group; this finding was not statistically significant (2.3% vs. 8.2%, p = .184). In pathological findings, residual lesions were significantly less common in the VIO-EP group.

CONCLUSIONS

The risks of pancreatitis and residual lesions after EP may be lower when the VIO electrosurgical unit is used with the optimal setting.

Endoscopic treatment for early duodenal papillary carcinoma: long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aims to determine whether endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is a safe and effective treatment for early duodenal papillary carcinoma with long-term follow-up.

METHODS

From June 2012 to September 2022, 48 patients with early duodenal papilloma carcinoma who received endoscopic treatment were included. The histological types, percentage of complete resections, postoperative residuals, adverse events, and recurrences were evaluated.

RESULTS

EP was successful in all patients; 46 were lumped, and two were fragmented, with a 95.8% intact removal rate (46/48). The preoperative biopsy pathological positive rate was 70.8% (34/48). The incidence of early postoperative adverse events (within 1 month after EP) were 16.7% (8/48), including four cases of acute pancreatitis, three cases of delayed bleeding, and one case of acute cholangitis. In addition, 4.2% (2/48) of the late adverse events were bile duct stenosis. After 6 months, the postoperative residual rate was 0%. The median time to recurrence was 17.5 months, and the postoperative recurrence rate was 16.7% (8/48) in patients treated with radiofrequency ablation. The median progression-free survival was 18.6 months (95% CI, 12.1-25.1), and the median overall survival was 121.5 months (95% CI, 105.6-120.9).

CONCLUSIONS

EP is a safe and efficient alternative therapy for early duodenal papillary carcinoma. Endoscopic follow-up and treatment are essential because of the potential for recurrence.

Clinicopathologic Analysis and Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients with Operable Ampullary Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Experience

Background and Objectives: In ampullary cancer, 5-year survival rates are 30-50%, even with optimal resection and perioperative systemic therapies. We sought to determine the important clinicopathological features and adjuvant treatments in terms of the prognosis of patients with operable-stage ampullary carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We included 197 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy to treat ampullary carcinomas between December 2003 and May 2019. Demographics, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes/survival were analyzed. Results: The median disease-free survival (mDFS) and median overall survival (mOS) were 40.9 vs. 63.4 months, respectively. The mDFS was significantly lower in patients with lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) and lymph node involvement (p = 0.027). Potential predictors of decreased OS on univariate analysis included age ≥ 50 years (p = 0.045), poor performance status (p = 0.048), weight loss (p = 0.045), T3-T4 tumors (p = 0.018), surgical margin positivity (p = 0.01), lymph node involvement (p = 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.007), and poor histological grade (p = 0.042). For the multivariate analysis, only nodal status (hazard ratio [HR]1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-3.65; p = 0.027) and surgical margin status (HR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.09-6.24; p = 0.03) were associated with OS. Conclusions: Nodal status and a positive surgical margin were independent predictors of a poor mOS for patients with ampullary carcinomas. Additional studies are required to explore the role of adjuvant therapy in patients with ampullary carcinomas.

Long-term follow-up of endoscopic papillectomy and the value of preventive pancreatic stent placement (with videos)

Background

Early-stage ampullary adenomas have only been reported in a small case series on endoscopic management. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of early ampullary adenoma with endoscopic management and identify the risk factors for acute pancreatitis after endoscopic papillectomy (EP).

Methods

In this study, 115 patients who underwent EP at Changhai Hospital (Shanghai, China) between January 2012 and December 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Endoscopy was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after EP. Data were statistically analysed using the t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

A total of 107 patients were included in this study and the follow-up period was 75 ± 43 months. The average age of the 107 patients was 54.6 years and the average tumor size was 17 mm. The average age of the patients (53.7 ± 10.7 years vs 55.2 ± 10.5 years, P = 0.482), minimum tumor size (13 vs 19 mm, P = 0.063), and complete resection rate (84.78% vs 85.25%, P = 0.947) did not differ significantly between the stent placement and non-stent placement groups. Post-EP acute pancreatitis rates in the non-stent placement and stent placement groups were 11.48% and 4.35%, respectively. The risk of post-EP acute pancreatitis was significantly associated with the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis. The risk of post-EP acute pancreatitis was not significantly associated with the placement of the pancreatic stent in either univariate or multivariate analysis. Moreover, delayed proximal pancreatic duct stenosis was not noted in either group during long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

EP is a satisfactory option for treating adenomas of the ampulla of the duodenum.

Endoscopic Resection Techniques for Duodenal and Ampullary Adenomas

Background and Aims

Duodenal polyps have a reported incidence of 0.3% to 4.6%. Sporadic, nonampullary duodenal adenomas (SNDAs) comprise less than 10% of all duodenal polyps, and ampullary adenomas are even less common. Nonetheless, the incidence continues to rise because of widespread endoscopy use. Duodenal polyps with villous features or those that are larger than 10 mm may raise concern for malignancy and require removal. We demonstrate endoscopic resection of SNDAs and ampullary adenomas using some of our preferred techniques.

Methods

The duodenum has several components that can make EMR of duodenal polyps technically challenging. Not only does the duodenum have a thin muscle layer, but it is also highly mobile and vascular, which may explain higher rates of perforation and bleeding of duodenal EMR reported in the literature compared with colon EMR. A standard adult gastroscope with a distal cap is commonly used for duodenal EMRs. Based on the location, however, side-viewing duodenoscopes or pediatric colonoscopes may be used. To prepare for EMR, a submucosal injection is performed for an adequate lift. The polyp is then resected via stiff monofilament snares and subsequently closed with hemostatic clips if feasible. The ampullectomy technique differs slightly from duodenal EMRs and carries the additional risk of pancreatitis. Submucosal injection in the ampulla may not lift well; thus, its utility is debatable. Biliary sphincterotomy should be performed, and based on endoscopist preference, the pancreatic duct (PD) guidewire can be left during resection to maintain access. After resection, a PD stent is placed to minimize pancreatitis risk.

Results

The video shows the aforementioned duodenal EMR techniques. Two clips of ampullectomy are also shown in the video.

Conclusions

A few common techniques used to perform duodenal EMR and ampullectomy are highlighted in the video. It is important to understand and manage adverse events associated with these procedures and to have established surveillance plans.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillectomy: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study on 227 patients

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic papillectomy is a minimally invasive treatment for benign tumors of the ampulla of Vater or early ampullary carcinoma. However, reported recurrence rates are significant and risk factors for recurrence are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillectomy and to identify risk factors for recurrence and adverse events.

METHODS

All patients who underwent endoscopic papillectomy at five tertiary referral centers between January 2008 and December 2018 were included. Recurrence was defined as the detection of residue on one of the follow-up endoscopies. Treatment success was defined as the absence of tumor residue on the last follow-up endoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 227 patients were included. The resections were en bloc in 64.8% of cases. The mean lesion size was 20 mm (range: 3-80) with lateral extension in 23.3% of cases. R0 resection was achieved in 45.3% of cases. The recurrence rate was 30.6%, and 60.7% of recurrences were successfully treated with additional endoscopic treatment. Finally, treatment success was achieved in 82.8% of patients with a median follow-up time of 22.3 months. R1 resection, intraductal invasion, and tumor size > 2 cm were associated with local recurrence. Adverse events occurred in 36.6% of patients and included pancreatitis (17.6%), post-procedural hemorrhage (11.0%), perforation (5.2%), and biliary stenosis (2.6%). The mortality rate was 0.9%.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic papillectomy is an effective and relatively well-tolerated treatment for localized ampullary tumors. In this series, R1 resection, intraductal invasion, and lesion size > 2 cm were associated with local recurrence.

Endoscopic papillectomy; a retrospective international multicenter cohort study with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is considered a relatively safe and minimally invasive treatment for papillary adenomas. In the literature a significant risk for local recurrence is described. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term recurrence rates and time-to-recurrence. Additionally, risk factors for recurrence, malignancy and adverse events were studied.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study in consecutive patients with papillary adenomas who underwent EP in two tertiary referral hospitals between 2001 and 2018. Primary outcome was recurrence in patients with at least 1-year endoscopic follow-up. Secondary outcomes were surgery free survival, adverse events, and mortality within 30 days after the index procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 259 patients were found eligible [median age 66 years, 130 male (50.2%)]. Forty-three patients were known with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) (16.6%). At least 1-year endoscopic follow-up was available in 154 patients with a total follow-up of 586 person-years and median of 40 months [interquartile range (IQR) 25-75]. Recurrence occurred in 24 cases (15.6%) of which 8 were known with FAP, leading to a recurrence incidence rate of 4.1 per 100 person-years with a median time-to-recurrence of 29 months (IQR 14.75-59.5). Fifty-three patients underwent at least 5-year follow-up, in 6 (11.3%) of them recurrence was encountered after 5 years of which four were known with FAP. No risk factors for recurrence could be identified. Adverse events occurred in 50/259 patients (19.3%). One patient died within 30 days after the procedure. Papillary stenosis occurred in 19/259 (7.3%) of the patients. There were no cases of malignant degeneration during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrence after EP occurs in a significant proportion of patients and occurs even 5 years after EP. This emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up. We advise to consider at least 5-year follow-up in case of a sporadic adenoma, unless comorbidity makes follow-up clinically irrelevant.

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.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic papillectomy for early-stage cancer in duodenal ampullary adenoma: Comparison to surgical treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIM

While recent evidences support endoscopic resection as curative in ampullary tumors with high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, only small case series have reported endoscopic management of early-stage ampullary cancer; thus, radical surgery remains the only accepted treatment modality. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of early ampullary adenocarcinoma administered endoscopic management.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of 715 patients undergoing endoscopic papillectomy (EP) in a single tertiary medical center in Korea in 2004-2016. We included patients incidentally diagnosed with early-stage adenocarcinoma (Tis and T1a, American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition) after EP and with >2 years of follow-up data and analyzed their demographics, histopathologic data, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 70 total patients in the EP-alone (n = 42) and subsequent surgery (n = 28) groups, we observed no significant differences in demographics or tumor size (2.0 ± 0.6 vs 1.9 ± 0.5 cm, P = 0.532), histologic grade (P = 0.077), tumor extent (P = 1.000), lymphovascular invasion (2.4% vs 10.7%, P = 0.344), or complete resection rates (57.1% vs 57.1%, P = 1.000) between groups. Adenocarcinoma lesions were larger in the subsequent surgery group (0.7 ± 0.5 vs 1.1 ± 0.7 cm, P = 0.002). The EP-alone group received more additional ablative treatment (42.9% vs 14.3%, P = 0.024). The 5-year disease-free and cancer-free survival rates were 79.1% vs 87.4% (P = 0.111) and 93.5% versus 87.4% (P = 0.726), respectively, and did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic papillectomy followed by endoscopic surveillance showed long-term outcomes comparable with surgical resection for early ampullary cancer and maybe curable alternative to surgery for incidentally found early-stage ampullary cancer, especially in patients unfit for or refusing radical surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation for intraductal extension of ampullary adenomatous lesions: proposal for a standardized protocol

Background and study aims  Intraductal extension of ampullary adenoma represents a challenging endoscopic issue. Intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recently suggested, but evidence and standardization of this technique are still lacking. This study aimed to provide a long-term evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of intraductal RFA ablation with a standardized algorithm of treatment. Patients and methods  Data were prospectively collected from consecutive patients with intraductal extension of adenomatous ampullary lesions from January 2016 to November 2018. Endpoints of the study were clinical success evaluated on histology results at the last follow-up, technical success, and adverse events assessment. Results  Nine patients with intraductal (biliary ± pancreatic) extension of ampullary adenomas were treated with RFA during the study period. Histology on the papillectomy specimen confirmed intraductal involvement with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) in five cases (56 %), high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in three (33 %), and HGD with intramucosal adenocarcinoma in one patient (11 %). Additional argon plasma coagulation to ablate the adenoma on the duodenal mucosa was applied in five patients (56 %). Technical success was 100 %. One patient (11 %) with failed pancreatic stenting, developing acute pancreatitis after RFA, recovered with medical therapy. After a median follow-up of 21 months (IQR 20-31), six patients (67 %) achieved clinical success being free of recurrence, whereas one was diagnosed with persistence of adenocarcinoma, one with recurrent HGD, and one with recurrent LGD. Conclusions  In our experience, intraductal RFA achieved acceptable results after a 2-year follow-up. Further studies are required to confirm our results and to select those patients most likely to respond.

A rare case of acute cholangitis after endoscopic ampullectomy

Endoscopic ampullectomy is indicated for the resection of non-invasive papillary adenomas in selected patients. Cholangitis is an uncommon complication (0-2%) that may be secondary to contamination during the procedure, poor emptying of the bile duct and prosthesis dysfunction or migration. Placement of a prophylactic biliary stent after the resection is not well established. We present a rare case of acute cholangitis after endoscopic ampullectomy secondary to a biliary prosthesis obstruction, due to a pancreatic prosthesis intrusion.

Diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of ampullary dysplasia by DNA flow cytometric analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue

The limited accuracy of endoscopic biopsy in detecting high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma within ampullary adenoma or dysplasia has been reported. The natural history of ampullary dysplasia is also unclear, and there are no established guidelines to determine which patients with ampullary dysplasia require resection versus surveillance endoscopy. DNA flow cytometry was performed on 47 ampullary biopsies with low-grade dysplasia, 18 high-grade dysplasia, and 23 negative for dysplasia, as well as 11 cases of ampullary adenocarcinoma. Abnormal DNA content (aneuploidy or elevated 4N fraction > 6%) was identified in 9 (82%) of adenocarcinoma, 13 (72%) of high-grade dysplasia, 7 (15%) of low-grade dysplasia, and none (0%) of non-dysplastic mucosa. One-, 2-, and 7-year detection rates of high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma in low-grade dysplasia patients with abnormal DNA content were 57%, 86%, and 88%, respectively, whereas low-grade dysplasia patients in the setting of normal DNA content had 1-, 2-, and 7-year detection rates of 10%, 10%, and 10%, respectively. The univariate and multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) for subsequent detection of high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma in low-grade dysplasia patients with DNA content abnormality were 16.8 (p = <0.01) and 9.8 (p = <0.01), respectively. Among the 13 high-grade dysplasia patients with DNA content abnormality, 5 patients (38%) were subsequently found to have adenocarcinoma within a mean follow-up time of 3 months, whereas only 1 (20%) of the remaining 5 patients in the setting of normal DNA content developed adenocarcinoma in a month (HR = 2.6, p = 0.39). The overall 1- and 2-year detection rates of adenocarcinoma in all high-grade dysplasia patients (regardless of flow cytometric results) were 34% (95% confidence interval = 16-63%) and 47% (95% confidence interval = 23-79%), respectively. In conclusion, the majority of low-grade dysplasia patients (86%) in the setting of abnormal DNA content developed high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma within 2 years and thus may benefit from resection, whereas those with normal DNA content may be followed with surveillance endoscopy. The presence of DNA content abnormality can also confirm a morphologic suspicion of high-grade dysplasia, which should be managed with resection, as nearly 50% of the high-grade dysplasia patients were found to have adenocarcinoma within 2 years.

Clinical Impact of Piecemeal Resection Concerning the Lateral Spread of Ampullary Adenomas

Objective Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been recognized to be a safe and reliable treatment modality for ampullary adenomas. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of endoscopic piecemeal resection for laterally spreading ampullary adenomas and to compare these findings with a control population of smaller conventional ampullary tumors treated in the same time period. Methods Between May 1999 and September 2015, 136 patients underwent EP at Tokyo Medical University hospital. A total of 125 patients underwent en bloc resection, and 11 patients underwent piecemeal resection. Results The final pathological diagnoses were 103 adenomas, 14 carcinomas in adenomas, 4 carcinomas, and 4 hyperplasia in the en bloc resection group, versus 7 adenomas, 3 carcinomas in adenoma, and 1 carcinomas in the piecemeal resection group. A single treatment session was possible in 104 (83.2%) of the 125 patients in the en bloc resection group and in 8 (72.7%) of the 11 in the piecemeal resection group. The total resection rate including additional treatments was 98.4% in the en bloc resection group and 100% in the piecemeal resection group. Conclusion Piecemeal resection for laterally spreading ampullary adenomas was sufficiently performed compared with en bloc resection.

New experience of endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary neoplasms

AIM

To establish the clinical value of endoscopic papillectomy for duodenal papillary tumor based on endoscopic and clinical characteristics.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included 110 patients with duodenal papillary tumor who underwent endoscopic papillectomy between January 2006 and April 2017 at the gastrointestinal endoscopic center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Clinical data, postoperative pathology, procedure-related complications, and therapeutic outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Endoscopic papillectomy was technically feasible in all patients, and was mainly performed by four experienced endoscopists. The primary success rate of endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary neoplasms was 78.2%. A total of 13 patients experienced recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 16.28 months (range 6-132 months), the predictive factors that were related to recurrence were complete resection (53.8% vs. 94.2%; P = 0.001), and final pathology findings (P = 0.001). Delayed hemorrhage, the most common procedure-related complication, occurred in 20% (22/110) of patients and was significantly related to intraoperative bleeding (P = 0.042). Pancreatitis was the second most common complication, which was closely related to intraoperative bleeding requiring intervention (P = 0.040) and larger tumor size (P = 0.044). Histology, type of resection, stent placement, sphincterotomy, and duration of procedure were not related to post-procedure hemorrhage or pancreatitis. Older age (63.7 ± 13.5 vs. 57.4 ± 12.2; P = 0.033), jaundice (47.8% vs. 13.8%; P = 0.001), endoscopic forceps biopsy diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (82.6% vs. 14.9%; P = 0.001), tumor size ≥ 2 cm (60.9% vs. 34.5%; P = 0.022), and dilation of the bile duct (34.8% vs. 9.2%; P = 0.006) were clinical features for ampullary carcinoma. The rate of complete resection (52.2% vs. 92.0%; P = 0.001) and recurrence (34.8% vs. 6.8%; P = 0.001) were also related to the diagnosis of ampullary carcinoma at final pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic papillectomy is a feasible and reasonable option for both diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the duodenal papilla in properly selected patients.

Radiofrequency ablation for intraductal extension of ampullary neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Extension of ampullary adenomas into the common bile duct (CBD) or pancreatic duct (PD) may be difficult to treat endoscopically. We evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of ampullary neoplasms with intraductal extension.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective analysis of all patients with intraductal extension of ampullary neoplasms treated with endoscopic RFA between February 2012 and June 2015. Treatment success was defined as the absence of detectable intraductal polyps by ductography, visual inspection, and biopsy sampling.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients with adenoma extension into the CBD (13 ± 7 mm, n = 14) and PD (7 ± 2 mm, n = 3) underwent a median of 1 RFA sessions (range, 1-5). Additional modalities (thermal probes, argon plasma coagulation, and/or photodynamic therapy) were also used in 7 patients, and prophylactic stents were routinely placed. Thirteen assessable patients underwent a median of 2 surveillance ERCPs after completion of treatment over a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 5-46), with intraductal biopsy specimens showing no neoplasm in 12 patients at the conclusion of endoscopic treatment. Treatment success was achieved in 92%, including 100% of those treated with RFA alone. Adverse events occurred in 43% and included ductal strictures (5 patients) and retroduodenal abscess (1 patient), all of which were successfully treated endoscopically.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic RFA, alone or in combination with other modalities, may effectively treat intraductal extension of ampullary neoplasms. Ductal strictures were common after RFA but responded to endoscopic stent therapy. RFA may be appropriate in selected patients, particularly when the main treatment alternative is pancreaticoduodenectomy.

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).

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.

Is local resection adequate for T1 stage ampullary cancer?

BACKGROUND

Concerns for morbidity after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has led to practitioners adopting endoscopic resection or ampullectomy in the treatment of T1 ampullary cancer (AC). It was hypothesized that survival for patients undergoing local resection of AC was inferior to those undergoing a PD.

METHODS

All the data of patients with AC reported in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2010 were collected. Five-year survival rates according to nodal disease and histological type were compared.

RESULTS

There were 1916 cases of AC; 421 (22%) had T1 disease. Among those with T1 disease, 217 (51%) received endoscopic surveillance, 21 (5%) underwent local resection/ampullectomy, 20 (5%) underwent ampullectomy with regional lymphadenectomy and 163 (39%) underwent PD. For patients with complete nodal staging (PD, n = 163), 35 (22%) had metastatic disease in the nodes. Grade was significantly associated with node positivity (P = 0.007). In multivariate models, survival was improved with either an ampullectomy with regional lymphadenectomy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05-0.61, P < 0.005] or a PD (HR 0.23; 95% CI 0.15-0.36, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with T1 AC have a high risk for nodal metastases especially if they are higher-grade lesions. Nodal clearance with a lymphadenectomy or a PD is essential for long-term survival in these patients.

Endoscopic resection of ampullary lesions: a single-center 8-year retrospective cohort study of 91 patients with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ampullectomy is established as a valuable treatment for adenomas of the Vaterian papilla. Few large series are available, however, let alone any with long-term follow-up. Moreover, multiple tangible issues remain. The aim of our study was to evaluate efficacy, safety, and outcome of endoscopic ampullectomy and compare it to existing literature

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective study with a minimal follow-up of 3 years including 91 patients, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and non-FAP, who had an endoscopic ampullectomy between 2000 and 2008. Outcome parameters included ampulloma characteristics, biotical accuracy as well as safety, efficacy, recurrence rate, and survival after endoscopic ampullectomy.

RESULTS

Endoscopic resection was successful in 71 patients (78%). Histological review of the resected specimens revealed nonspecific changes (13.8%), low or medium grade dysplasia (52.9%), high grade dysplasia (21.8%) and carcinoma (18.3%). Bioptic accuracy was 38.3%. Overall complications were observed in 23 patients (25.2%): pancreatitis (15.4%), hemorrhage (12.1%) and cholangitis (4.9%). Recurrence occurred in 18.3%. Fourteen patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Survival after complete endoscopic ampullectomy was excellent for patients with low to moderate grade dysplasia and high grade dysplasia. Incomplete endoscopic resection of high grade dysplasia or invasive carcinoma was associated with unfavorable outcome when treated merely endoscopically.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic ampullectomy is obligatory for assessment of the true histological nature of an ampulloma. Endoscopic resection is a safe and efficient procedure for adenomas with low to moderate dysplasia but also for high grade dysplastic lesions, provided that a complete endoscopic resection is achieved.

Endoscopic ultrasound assessment of lesions of the ampulla of Vater is of particular value in low-grade dysplasia

BACKGROUND

The accurate diagnosis of dysplasia or carcinoma within ampullary lesions can be difficult, but, when possible, identifies patients who require endoscopic or surgical resection, respectively. The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in diagnosing these lesions and the degree of dysplasia is unclear.

METHODS

Patients with lesions of the ampulla were identified over 5 years. Patients who did not undergo EUS were compared with those who did.

RESULTS

A total of 27 of 58 (47%) patients were investigated with EUS. Pretreatment diagnoses were correct in 93% of the EUS group vs. 78% of the no-EUS group. Rates of diagnostic accuracy in low-grade dysplasia (LGD), high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and adenocarcinoma (ADC) were 72%, 20% and 96%, respectively, in the no-EUS group, and 93%, 50% and 100%, respectively, in the EUS group. Every diagnosis of LGD in the EUS group was correct, whereas these diagnoses accounted for the majority of errors (eight of 13) in the no-EUS group. High-grade dysplasia was frequently misdiagnosed. More patients were treated by endoscopic resection in the EUS group (12 of 27 vs. five of 31; P= 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic ultrasound increases the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of ampullary lesions and is particularly useful in patients with LGD because it permits safe endoscopic management. Patients with HGD must be reviewed carefully and considered for pancreatoduodenectomy.

Preoperative evaluation and management of the pancreatic head mass

The differential diagnosis of a pancreatic head mass encompasses a wide range of clinical entities that include both solid and cystic lesions. This chapter focuses on our approach to the patient presenting with a newly found pancreatic head mass with the main goals of determining the risk of the lesion being malignant or premalignant, resectability if the patient is appropriate for surgical intervention, assessment of need for multimodality treatment and determination the patient's surgical risk.

A single-institution review of 157 patients presenting with benign and malignant tumors of the ampulla of Vater: management and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although benign ampullary tumors are removed endoscopically, due to their potential to progress to malignant disease, the favored treatment for adenocarcinoma is pancreaticoduodenectomy. We reviewed our institution's experience in order to identify which patients were at highest risk of disease progression following surgical resection, as well as evaluate whether localized T1 tumors are best treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 157 patients who presented with an ampullary mass, from 2001 to 2010, and identified 51 with benign adenoma and 106 with adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS

Patients with malignant tumors most often presented with larger tumors and jaundice, which alone was predictive of survival (OR = 67). Forty-five percent of patients with pathologically confirmed T1 tumors had positive lymph nodes and median survival was modest at 60 months. Lymph node involvement was predictive of recurrence and decreased survival.

CONCLUSION

Patients with malignant tumors often present with jaundice and larger tumors. These findings should warrant suspicion for cancer and expedited preoperative workup. Based on our finding that nearly half the patients with T1 tumors had positive lymph nodes, we recommend pancreaticoduodenectomy for any patient with biopsy proven adenocarcinoma who is a suitable candidate for surgery.

Short-term results of 42 endoscopic ampullectomies: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

Benign lesions of the major papilla are rare but raise the problem of their medical care. We studied the efficacy, safety, and histology of the endoscopic ampullectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-two endoscopic resections of the major papilla were undertaken in 23 males and 19 females of a mean age of 63. Five patients (12%) presented with a familial adenomatous polyposis. The assessment of resectability included preoperative histology, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in 26 patients (62%) always showing intra-mucosal lesion. The resection was performed with a duodenoscope, using a diathermic loop with a pure current section.

RESULTS

The resection was realized in one piece for 34 patients, in 2-4 fragments for 8 patients. A plastic pancreatic stent was inserted in 26 patients (62%), a plastic biliary stent in 10 patients (24%). There were no deaths but nine complications (21%): six acute pancreatitis (four patients with a pancreatic stent, contrary to the literature), three delayed gastrointestinal bleeding. The final histological result was fibrosis and inflammatory tissue in 7 patients, low-grade dysplasia in 20 patients, high-grade dysplasia or in situ carcinoma in 10 patients, invasive adenocarcinoma in 1 patient, and somatostatinoma in 2 patients (concordance of 72% with the initial histology). The resection was complete in 39 patients (93%). Three patients had additional surgery because of positive margin of resection or bad histology criteria. The median of follow-up in 33 patients with a complete resection was of 15 months, and we did not note any recurrence in 29 patients (88%).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic ampullectomy is an efficient treatment for superficial lesions of the papilla, despite a significant but rarely severe morbidity. Preoperative EUS is mandatory, preoperative histology is advisable. Long-term follow-up is necessary.

Linear endoscopic ultrasonography vs magnetic resonance imaging in ampullary tumors

AIM: To assess linear endoscopic ultrasound (L-EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in biliary tract dilation and suspect small ampullary tumor.

METHODS: L-EUS and MRI data were compared in 24 patients with small ampullary tumors; all with subsequent histological confirmation. Data were collected prospectively and the accuracy of detection, histological characterization and N staging were assessed retrospectively using the results of surgical or endoscopic treatment as a benchmark.

RESULTS: A suspicion of ampullary tumor was present in 75% of MRI and all L-EUS examinations, with 80% agreement between EUS and histological findings at endoscopy. However, L-EUS and histological TN staging at surgery showed moderate agreement (κ = 0.54).

CONCLUSION: L-EUS could be a useful adjunct as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with suspected ampullary tumors.

Pedunculated early ampullary carcinoma treated by ampullectomy: report of a case

CASE REPORT

A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for treatment of an ampullary tumor. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a pedunculated tumor in the ampulla of Vater with a diameter of 50 mm, which was biopsied and diagnosed as tubulovillous adenoma with moderate atypia. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated a hypoechoic tumor limited to the mucosa and without evidence of lymph node metastasis. Since endoscopic resection was not indicated because of the large size and pedunculated morphology with a long stalk, the patient underwent ampullectomy and papilloplasty. Histological examination revealed well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in tubular adenoma with severe atypia limited to the mucosa. The patient remains well with no evidence of recurrence 10 months after resection.

DISCUSSION

Ampullectomy is an established method for ampullary tumor, but such a tumor with a long stalk is rare.

Giant laterally spreading tumors of the papilla: endoscopic features, resection technique, and outcome (with videos)

BACKGROUND

Successful endoscopic treatment of conventional papillary adenomas is well described. However, many authors recommend surgical resection for larger lesions with extrapapillary extension.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the classification, technique, and outcome for the endoscopic resection of giant laterally spreading tumors of the papilla (LST-P).

DESIGN

Single-center case series.

SETTINGS

Tertiary referral academic gastroenterology unit.

PATIENTS

Patients referred for endoscopic treatment of LST-P.

INTERVENTION

Pre-resection staging and single-session endoscopic removal of papillary adenomas. For those classified as LST-P (>30 mm, extending beyond the papilla onto the duodenal wall and involving as much as two thirds of the duodenal circumference), a standardized single-session EMR technique was used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Technical success, complications, and adenoma recurrence for single-session removal of LST-P. Outcomes were compared with those of conventional ampullary adenoma resection during the same period.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients with ampullary adenomas were referred. In 10 patients identified with LST-P (mean age 70.2 years; adenoma size 30-80 mm), combination EMR and papillectomy was performed in a single session. The median admission duration was 1 night (range 0-35). Complications included bleeding (30%) and cholecystitis (10%), with no cases of pancreatitis or perforation. Adenoma recurrence at 3 months was found in 1 patient (10%). Complication and recurrence rates in smaller (<30 mm) ampullary adenoma resections were not significantly different.

LIMITATIONS

A relatively uncommon entity and thus small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic resection of carefully staged LST-P is a viable therapeutic alternative to surgery. In experienced hands, the outcomes are comparable to those for conventional ampullary adenomas.

Loss of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I in small-intestinal adenocarcinoma

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS1), normally found in hepatocytes and small-intestine (SI) enterocytes, is the antigen of Hep Par 1 antibody. Expression of CPS1 in invasive SI adenocarcinoma seems to be lost. We retrospectively collected 36 total specimens, which included 31 SI adenomas and 21 adenocarcinomas. We used 34 cases of duodenitis as a control group. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed to determine CPS1 expression. The normal SI mucosa, all 34 cases of duodenitis, and all 29 adenomas with low-grade dysplasia demonstrated diffuse Hep Par 1 expression. Of the 21 invasive adenocarcinomas, 15 lost antigen expression (71%). These data are statistically significant (P < .05). Western blot analysis confirmed the immunohistochemical findings, with strong CPS1 expression within the normal mucosa and adenoma and complete loss in the invasive tumor. The differential expression of Hep Par 1 in dysplastic vs malignant tumors of the SI may be diagnostically useful in difficult cases.

Immunocytochemical assessment of p53 protein to detect malignancy in increased cell-yield brush cytology from the biliopancreatic tree

BACKGROUND

Malignancies arising from the biliopancreatic tree are often diagnostic challenges for the gastroenterologist and the pathologist, especially when strictures without masses are present.

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic yield of p53 immunocytology for the detection of malignancies in material obtained by biliopancreatic tree brushing by means of an increased cell-yield procedure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cytologic specimens obtained from biliary and pancreatic tree brushing in 24 patients with biliary strictures suspected for malignancy were assessed by conventional Papanicolau staining and p53 immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

Papanicolau staining detected 67% and p53 87% of the malignancies in the study group. p53 immunocytology displayed excellent sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

p53 immunocytology may represent a useful diagnostic tool in the detection of malignancies from biliary and pancreatic tree brushing, especially when using an increasing cell-yield procedure.

Focal early stage cancer in ampullary adenoma: surgery or endoscopic papillectomy?

BACKGROUND

Recently, the evidence has been accumulating that endoscopic resection may be curative in treating ampullary adenoma that contains high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia/in situ tumor (HGIN/Tis). However, there are only anecdotal reports of endoscopic management of "focal" T1 ampullary cancer (T1 cancer), and radical surgery is still considered the only accepted treatment modality.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the possibility of endoscopic papillectomy as an alternative to radical surgery for the treatment of ampullary adenoma with HGIN/Tis or focal T1 cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective evaluation of case series of our hospital from 1996 to 2006.

SETTING

Tertiary-care university teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Twenty-three patients who had HGIN/Tis or focal T1 cancer in ampullary adenoma resected by endoscopic papillectomy and 60 patients who initially underwent radical surgery for HGIN/Tis or T1 cancer of the ampulla of Vater. "Focal" was defined as a lesion involving only mucosa, with a size less than a fourth the diameter of main adenoma.

INTERVENTIONS

Review of medical records and analysis of surgically or endoscopically resected specimens of ampullary tumors.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Locoregional extension and follow-up data.

RESULTS

Patients with HGIN/Tis of the ampulla of Vater had no lymphovascular invasion or lymph-node metastasis, and there were no occurrences of cancer or deaths during a mean (standard error [+/-SE]) 27.1 +/- 5.9 months after endoscopic papillectomy. T1 cancer was shown to have lymphovascular invasion and/or lymph-node metastasis in 10.7% and duct mucosal involvement in another 17.9%. Among them, patients with focal T1 cancer showed no lymphovascular invasion or lymph-node metastasis and no ductal involvement, and none of the patients who underwent endoscopic papillectomy alone had cancer recurrence or disease-related death for mean (+/-SE) 32.2 +/- 6.7 months.

LIMITATIONS

Single-center, retrospective study, small number of patients, and medium-term follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic papillectomy may be a curative treatment for ampullary adenoma with HGIN/Tis and should also be considered as an alternative to surgery in focal T1 cancer in ampullary adenoma.