Table of contents
Ampullary cancer
What's new
Added 2021 ESGE and 2021 ASGE guidelines for the diagnosis and management of ampullary cancer.
Background
Overview
Definition
Ampullary cancer is a rare malignancy that originates in the ampulla of Vater.
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Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of ampullary cancer is complex and involves a variety of molecular alterations. The most common subtype is adenocarcinoma, which can have either intestinal or pancreatobiliary differentiation. Genomic sequencing has identified several driver genes, including ELF3, TP53, KRAS, and APC, that play a role in the development of this cancer.
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Epidemiology
The incidence of ampullary cancer in the Unites States is estimated at 0.59 per 100,000 person-years.
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Disease course
Clinically, patients with ampullary cancer often present with symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, weight loss, and pale stools. In some cases, the disease may be asymptomatic and detected incidentally during routine medical examinations.
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Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis of ampullary cancer varies widely and is influenced by factors such as disease stage at diagnosis, histopathological subtype, and the presence of lymph node metastases. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve survival rates.
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Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of ampullary cancer are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE 2021,2013) and the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE 2021)....
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Classification and risk stratification
Diagnostic procedures
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: as per ESGE 2021 guidelines, Consider using the cap-assisted method when the papilla is not seen during forward-viewing endoscopy.
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EUS
Intraductal ultrasound
Biopsy and histopathology
Evaluation after initial negative histopathology
Therapeutic procedures
Endoscopic biliary stenting: as per ESGE 2021 guidelines, Perform retrograde cholangiopancreatography with self-expandable metal stent insertion in patients with ampullary tumors and biliary obstruction in palliative settings.
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Ablative techniques
Surgical interventions
Endoscopic papillectomy, indications: as per ESGE 2021 guidelines, Do not perform diagnostic/therapeutic papillectomy when adenoma has not been proven.
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Endoscopic papillectomy (technical considerations)
Endoscopic papillectomy (prevention and management of postprocedural complications)
Surgical papillectomy
Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Specific circumstances
Patients with gastric outlet obstruction: as per ASGE 2021 guidelines, Consider placing self-expandable metallic stents or performing surgical gastrojejunostomy in patients with incurable malignant gastric outlet obstruction undergoing palliative intervention. Decide between these approaches based on patient characteristics and preferences, multidisciplinary input, and local expertise.
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Follow-up and surveillance
Postoperative surveillance: as per ESGE 2021 guidelines, Obtain long-term monitoring of patients after endoscopic papillectomy or surgical ampullectomy, based on duodenoscopy with biopsies of the scar and of any abnormal area, within the first 3 months, at 6 and 12 months, and thereafter yearly for at least 5 years.
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Management of recurrent disease