Lymph node (LN) metastasis is an established prognostic factor for patients with surgically resected ampulla of Vater (AoV) cancer. The standard procedure for radical resection, including removal of regional LNs, is pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD); however, local excision has been considered as an alternative option for patients in the early stage cancer with significant comorbidities. In the present study, we elucidated the preoperative factors associated with LN metastasis to determine the appropriate surgical extent for T1 AoV cancer.

We included patients who underwent surgery for T1 AoV cancer at Samsung Medical Center and Severance Hospital between 2000 and 2019. Risk factors were analyzed to identify the preoperative parameters associated with LN metastasis or regional LN recurrence during follow-up. Finally, using the identified risk factors, a prediction model was constructed.

Among 342 patients, 311 patients underwent PD, whereas 31 patients underwent transduodenal ampullectomy. Fourty-eight patients had LN metastasis according to pathology report, and two patients presented with regional LN recurrence. Age, carbohydrate antigen 19 - 9 (CA 19 - 9), and tumor differentiation were identified as factors associated with the increased risk of LN metastasis or regional LN recurrence. The area under the curve of the prediction model with these three factors was 0.728.

Our newly developed prediction model using age, CA 19 - 9, and tumor differentiation can help select patients who require PD over local excision. Nevertheless, additional in-depth analysis is warranted to select appropriate surgical extent for patients with presumed T1 AoV cancer.

This study was conducted to investigate the imaging information, laboratory data, and clinical characteristics of duodenal papillary malignancies, aiming to contribute to the early diagnosis of these diseases.

The clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and computed tomography (CT) findings of 17 patients with adenoma of the major duodenal papilla (the adenoma group) and 58 patients with cancer of the major duodenal papilla (the cancer group) were retrospectively analyzed. The measurement data were analyzed using t test and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The counting data were analyzed using the χ2 test and expressed in n (%). Pearson correlation analysis was also conducted, and a scatter plot was drawn.

There were significant differences in the diameter, shape, margin, and target sign of the major duodenal papilla, pancreatic duct diameter, common bile duct diameter, enhancement uniformity, fever, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and jaundice between the adenoma group and the cancer group (P < .01). The enhancement magnitude of the duodenal papilla was correlated with the lesion size, and the venous phase CT value of the enhanced scan was correlated with the duodenal papilla diameter (P < .05). Additionally, 12 patients in the cancer group suffered from malignant transformation of adenomas.

Firstly, CT is of high value in the diagnosis of duodenal papilla diseases. Secondly, the enhancement magnitude of the duodenal papilla is correlated with the lesion size. Thirdly, patients with duodenal papilla adenomas have a risk of progression into adenocarcinoma, thereby requiring close follow-up.

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).

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.

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.

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

Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeries are one of the most challenging and complex procedures. Intraoperative frozen section (IFS) diagnosis plays a pivotal role in management decisions. Comprehensive large cohort studies evaluating utility of IFS in HPB malignancies are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of frozen section analysis and to analyse discrepancies and impact of IFS on the surgical decisions.

This was a retrospective study of IFS received for the HPB specimens between years 2009 and 2021. The results were compared to the permanent sections to evaluate diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Indications, disagreements and impact on the surgical management were analysed.

A total of 1008 specimens were evaluated: bile duct margin (279; 27.7%), gallbladder (203; 20.1%), liver lesions (125 cases; 12.4%), lymph nodes (147; 14.6%), pancreatic margin (120; 11.9%) and deposits (134; 13.3%). IFS were diagnosed as negative for malignancy (805; 79.9%), positive for dysplasia (8; 0.8%), suspicious for malignancy (6; 0.6%) and positive for malignancy (189; 18.8%). The overall diagnostic accuracy was 98.4%, and the discordant rate was 1.6%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 94.7%, 99.4%, 97.5% and 98.6% respectively. The most important reason of discordant results was technical, followed by interpretational and sampling errors.

The study demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy (98.4%) of IFS in a large dataset of HPB specimens. This comprehensive analysis apprises of the indications, errors and the impact of IFS diagnosis on subsequent HPB surgical management.

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.

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.

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

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.

Ampullary adenomas are treated both surgically and endoscopically, however, data comparing both techniques are lacking. We aimed to compare long-term recurrence of benign sporadic adenomas after endoscopic (EA) and surgical ampullectomy (SA).

A comprehensive literature search of multiple databases (until December 29, 2020) was performed to identify studies reporting outcomes of EA or SA of benign sporadic ampullary adenomas. The outcome was recurrence rate at 1 year, 2-year, 3 year and 5 years after EA and SA.

A total of 39 studies with 1753 patients (1468 EA [age 61.1 ± 4.0 years, size 16.1 ± 4.0 mm], 285 SA [mean age 61.6 ± 4.48 years, size 22.7 ± 5.4 mm]) were included in the analysis. At year 1, pooled recurrence rate of EA was 13.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.5-15.9], I² = 31%) as compared to SA 14.1% (95% CI 9.5-20.3 I² = 15.8%) (p = 0.82). Two (12.5%, [95% CI, 8.9-17.2] vs. 14.3 [95% CI, 9.1-21.6], p = 0.63), three (13.3%, [95% CI, 7.3-21.6] vs. 12.9 [95% CI, 7.3-21.6], p = 0.94) and 5 years (15.7%, [95% CI, 7.8-29.1] vs. 17.6% [95% CI, 6.2-40.8], p = 0.85) recurrence rate were comparable after EA and SA. On meta-regression, age, size of lesion or enbloc and complete resection were not significant predictors of recurrence.

EA and SA of sporadic adenomas have similar recurrence rates at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years of follow up.

Transduodenal ampullectomy has been attempted in ampullary tumors, including early ampullary cancer. However, the indication and extent of transduodenal ampullectomy with curative intent remain controversial. Herein, we address the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients with early ampullary cancer who underwent transduodenal ampullectomy at a single center.

We retrospectively enrolled 10 early ampullary cancer patients who underwent transduodenal ampullectomy and 11 early ampullary cancer patients who underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy at Saitama Cancer Center between October 2008 and May 2021. Among this cohort, we analyzed the perioperative outcomes and long-term outcomes.

In terms of the perioperative outcomes between the transduodenal ampullectomy and subtotal stomach-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy groups, the transduodenal ampullectomy group exhibited a shorter operating time (244 minutes vs 390 minutes, P = .003), less intraoperative blood loss (67.5 grams vs 774 grams, P = .006) and shorter length of postoperative hospital stay (15 days vs 33 days). With respect to the postoperative nutrition status, the transduodenal ampullectomy group exhibited less postoperative weight loss (0.67% vs 8.95%, P = .021), a better Controlling Nutritional Status score (1.0 vs 2.1, P = .011) and a better Prognostic Nutritional Index score (42.9 vs 40.9, P = .018). The 5-year survival in the adenoma with high-grade dysplasia and T1 ampullary cancer which invaded the mucosal layer groups was 100%, whereas the median survival time in the T1 ampullary cancer which invaded the sphincter of Oddi group was 20.7 months (P = .0028).

Transduodenal ampullectomy is assumed to be a feasible and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of selected patients with early ampullary cancer, including patients with adenoma with high-grade dysplasia or T1 ampullary cancer which invaded the mucosal layer ampullary cancer.

The Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society has developed the "Clinical Practice Guidelines for Endoscopic Papillectomy (EP)" as a fundamental guideline using scientific approach. EP is a recently spreading therapeutic modality for ampullary tumors ranked as high risk endoscopic technique. Because of the paucity of high level of evidence, strength of recommendations had to be determined by a consensus among specialists. These guidelines, shed light on the following five issues: Indications, Preoperative/intraoperative preparations and techniques, Early adverse events, Therapeutic outcomes and remnants/recurrences, and Follow-up and late adverse events, to guide current clinical practice on EP.

Tumours of the ampulla of Vater are relatively uncommon lesions of the digestive system. They are typically diagnosed at an earlier stage than other types of tumours in this region, due to their tendency to invoke symptoms by obstructing the bile duct or pancreatic duct. Consequently, many are potentially curable by excision. Surgical ampullectomy (SA) (or transduodenal ampullectomy) for an ampullary tumour was first described in 1899, but was soon surpassed by pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), which offered a more extensive resection resulting in a lower risk of recurrence. Ongoing innovation in endoscopic techniques over recent decades has led to the popularization of endoscopic papillectomy (EP), particularly for adenomas and even early cancers. The vast majority of resectable ampullary tumours are now treated using either PD or EP. However, SA continues to play a role in specific circumstances. Many authors have suggested specific indications for SA based on their own data, practices, or interpretations of the literature. However, certain issues have attracted controversy, such as its use for early ampullary cancers. Consequently, there has been a lack of clarity regarding indications for SA, and no evidence-based consensus guidelines have been produced. All studies reporting SA have employed observational designs, and have been heterogeneous in their methodologies. Accordingly, characteristics of patients and their tumours have differed substantially across treatment groups. Therefore, meaningful comparisons of clinical outcomes between SA, PD and EP have been elusive. Nevertheless, it appears that suitably selected cases of ampullary tumours subjected to SA may benefit from favourable peri-operative and long-term outcomes with very low mortality and significantly long survival, hence its role in this setting warrants further clarification, while it can also be useful in the management of specific benign entities. Whilst the commissioning of a randomised controlled trial seems unlikely, well-designed observational studies incorporating adjustments for confounding variables may become the best available comparative evidence for SA, potentially informing the eventual development of consensus guidelines. In this comprehensive review, we explore the role of SA in the modern management of ampullary lesions.

The purpose of this review was to examine the historical roots of endoscopic management of ampullary lesions and explore emerging data on improved techniques, technologies, and outcomes. Of specific interest was answering whether there exists a reasonable body of data to support one resection technique or strategy above others.

Review of recent literature suggests the continued use of endoscopic ampullectomy is a safe and effective means of curative treatment of ampullary adenomas. Complications are relatively infrequent and complete endoscopic resection is possible in a majority of cases, with proper patient and lesion selection. Greater than 2 decades of experience with endoscopic ampullectomy have shown this to be a viable, well-tolerated, and highly effective means of treating ampullary adenomas. While few concrete guidelines exist to advise endoscopists on the ideal technique for resection, experience, patient selection, and prior planning can greatly influence the technical and clinical success of endoscopic ampullectomy.

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has been attempted not only for benign lesions but also for early ampullary carcinoma (AC). However, there is still no sufficient evidence or consensus regarding the effectiveness of EP for early AC. Herein, we evaluated the expanding indication of EP for early AC.

Between May 1999 and December 2016, 177 patients were diagnosed with ampullary tumor before undergoing EP, and their clinical and histopathological data were analyzed retrospectively.

There were 27 Tis-T1a AC patients and four T1b AC patients who underwent EP. Mean tumor size was 14.1 mm for Tis-T1a AC and 17.0 mm for T1b AC. For the histological grade, 50% (2/4) of T1b AC were moderately differentiated, whereas 96.3% (26/27) of Tis-T1a AC were well differentiated and papillary. For lymphovascular invasion, one (25%) occurred in T1b AC but none occurred in Tis-T1a AC. There was no AC recurrence from the date of EP until a maximum of 5 years (Tis-T1a: mean period 48.5 months [5-60]; T1b: mean period 26.5 months [3-60]).

Endoscopic papillectomy is useful and reliable for the curative treatment of T1a AC. Large-scale prospective studies with long-term follow up are needed.

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) has emerged as an alternative to surgery in the management of ampullary lesions. The aim of this study is to evaluate feasibility, efficacy, safety, outcome, and impact of EP in the management of benign ampullary lesions.

This is a multicenter, retrospective study of 44 patients who had EP of benign ampullary lesions.

Over the 11-year period, 44 (55.7%) of 79 patients underwent EP for benign ampullary lesions. Complete resection was achieved in 40 patients (91%). An underlying adenocarcinoma was the only risk factor for incomplete resection. Twenty-eight lesions (63.6%) were resected en-bloc and 16 lesions (36.4%) were resected in piecemeal fashion. Post-papillectomy histopathologic diagnoses were tubular adenoma in 14 patients (32%), invasive adenocarcinoma in 9 patients (20.5%), tubullovillous adenoma in 7 patients (16%), tubullovillous adenoma with carcinoma limited to the mucosal layer in 5 patients (11.3%), adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in 4 patients (9%), neuroendocrine tumor in 1 patient (2.3%), ganglioneuroma in 1 patient (2.3%), hamartomatous polyp in 1 patient (2.3%), adenofibroma in 1 patients (2.3%), and Brunner gland hyperplasia in 1 patient (2.3%). Seven (15.9%) procedure-related complications occurred: 3 (6.8%) bleeding, 2 (4.5%) pancreatitis, 1 (2.3%) abdominal pain, and 1 (2.3%) stent migration to the pancreatic duct. Seven patients (17%) had recurrence.

Endoscopic papillectomy is a safe and effective method and can be considered as a first-line approach in patients with benign ampullary lesions with intent for cure. It also allows for correct histological diagnosis and staging.

Extension of ampulloma into the lower common bile duct (CBD) is observed in up to 30% of cases. This biliary extension can prevent complete tumor resection thus is considered as a contraindication for endoscopic and even surgical ampullectomy. For ampullomas associated with a prolonged biliary extension, a pancreaticoduodenectomy is associated with a high morbidity and can be considered as an overtreatment for a benign neoplasm. The present study describes a new surgical approach including ampullectomy with complete resection of the intrapancreatic CBD and restoration of both biliary and pancreatic flow by two separate anastomoses. This procedure was performed in seven patients for a non-invasive ampulloma with a 25- to 70-mm CBD involvement. No patients died and three developed postoperative complications. Resection was R0 in all patients but one. With a 24-month median follow-up (range = 3-84), no patients developed pancreatic insufficiency or tumor recurrence.

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.

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

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.

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

Background: Although carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (CAV) is a rare tumor, accounting for just 0.2% of gastrointestinal cancers, the survival of CAV patients is unfavorable. The five-year rates have ranged from 36.8-75.2% in previous reports but there is a lack of data relating to Thai people. Also prognostic factors are controversial. Objectives: This study aimed to determine survival outcomes and to identify prognostic factors for a positive outcome for CAV patients after surgery. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were collected from CAV patients who underwent surgery in Chiang Mai University Hospital from 2005 to 2012 for time to event analysis, the log rank test and univariate and multivariate Cox’s regression analysis. Results: There were 72 CAV patients recruited, 45.8% being male. The mean age was 65.1 ± 10.5 years and the median waiting time for surgery was 56.5 days (24.5-91.5). The 30 day mortality rate was 5.6%., while 5-yr survival was 33.3%. The average disease free survival was 14.6 months. Prognostic factors relating to recurrence were positive lymph nodes (50% VS 19.6% p = 0.015) and advanced stage (44.1% VS 18.4% p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis showed that the potential prognostic factors for CAV patients included recurrence, moderate and poor differentiation, comorbidities and a tumor size > 2.0 cm. Conclusions: The findings of the study indicate that the overall survival of CAV patients after surgery is quite fair, with a tendency for better outcome with early as compared to advanced lesions. The key prognostic factors were recurrence, moderate and poor differentiation, comorbidity and tumor size > 2.0 cm.

Non-invasive ampullary tumors, may be treated with endoscopic (EA) or surgical ampullectomy (SA). However, evidence on the morbidity of these techniques remains limited. This pilot study aimed to assess and compare morbidity of EA and SA. Patients undergoing EA or SA for non-invasive ampullary tumors were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Outcomes were postoperative complications graded with Clavien Classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), and length of stay (LoS). A review of the literature was performed to propose an evidence-based algorithm to treat ampullary tumors. A total of 11 EA and 19 SA were identified and analyzed. EA was associated with shorter intervention (51 vs. 191 min, p < 0.001) and decreased blood loss (0 vs. 100 mL, p < 0.001). Postoperative complications were more frequent after surgery compared to endoscopy (9% vs. 68%, p = 0.002). Surgical patients showed a higher CCI (0 vs. 8.7, p < 0.001). LoS was reduced in patients undergoing endoscopy (0 vs. 14 days, p < 0.001), with comparable readmissions rates (p = 0.126). Necessity of subsequent treatment was more frequent after endoscopic, compared to SA (5 vs. 1, p = 0.016). EA was associated with lower morbidity than SA and appeared as an appropriate first-line treatment for non-invasive ampullary tumors. SA remains a valuable alternative after EA failure.

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.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is associated with an increased risk of development of periampullary and nonampullary adenoma. Either routine biopsy or endoscopic removal of the lesion is generally required to identify the presence of adenoma. Because the risk of tissue sampling from the ampulla is high and nonampullary polyps are sometimes numerous, resection of all the lesions is time-consuming. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic values of duodenal adenoma by dual focus NBI (dNBI) and probe-based confocal endomicroscopy (pCLE) in FAP patients.

The authors conducted a diagnostic study in a single tertiary-care referral center. Surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy with dNBI and pCLE was performed on 26 patients with FAP for real-time adenoma diagnosis by two different endoscopists; one used dNBI and the other pCLE. Histology from the matched lesion was used as the gold standard.

A total of 55 matched biopsies (25 ampullas, 30 nonampullas) were performed. The sensitivity, specificity, post predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of dNBI vs. pCLE from all duodenal lesions were 96.9 % vs. 93.8 %, 78.3 % vs. 81 %, 86.1 % vs. 88.2 %, 94.7 vs. 89.5 %, and 92.4 % vs. 88.6 %, respectively.

For surveillance of periampullary and nonampullary adenoma in patients with FAP, the real-time readings provided a high degree of diagnostic value when histology was used as the gold standard. (

NCT02162173).

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.

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.

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).

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

Data comparing operative and endoscopic resection of adenomas of the ampulla of Vater are limited. Our aims were to evaluate and compare the long-term results and outcomes of endoscopic and operative resections of benign tumors of the ampulla of Vater as well as to determine which features of benign periampullary neoplasms would predict recurrence or failure of endoscopic therapy and therefore need for operative treatment.

Retrospective review of all patients treated for adenomas of ampulla of Vater at our institution from 1994 to 2009.

Over a 15-year span, 180 patients (mean age 59 years) were treated for benign adenomas of the ampulla of Vater with a mean follow-up of 4.4 years. Obstructive jaundice was more common in the operative resection group (p = 0.006). The adenomas were tubular in 83 patients (44%), tubulovillous in 77 (45%) and villous in 20 (11%). Endoscopic resection alone was performed in 130 patients (78%). Operative resection was performed in 50 patients (28%), with pancreatoduodenectomy in 40, transduodenal local resection in 9, and pancreas-sparing total duodenectomy in 1. Nine patients who underwent endoscopic resection initially were endoscopic treatment failures. Fifty-eight percent of endoscopically treated patients required one endoscopic resection, while 58 (42%) required two or more endoscopic resections (range 2-8). Patients who underwent operative resection had larger tumors with a mean size of 3.7 ± 2.8 versus 1.8 ± 1.5 cm in those treated by endoscopic resection (p < 0.001) or intraductal extension (p = 0.02). Intraductal extension and ulceration had no effect on recurrence if completely resected endoscopically (p = 0.41 and p = 0.98, respectively). Postoperative complications occurred in 58% of patients, and post-endoscopic complications in 29% (p < 0.001). Endoscopic resection was associated with a greater than fivefold risk of recurrence than operative resection (p = 0.006); 4% of recurrences had invasive carcinomas. When comparing patients who underwent local resections only (endoscopic and operative), there was no difference in the recurrence rate between endoscopic resection and operative transduodenal resection (32 versus 33%; p = 0.49). The need for two or more endoscopic resections for complete tumor removal was associated with 13-fold greater risk of recurrence (p < 0.001).

There is no significant difference between endoscopic and local operative resections of benign adenomas of ampulla of Vater; recurrences are more common when two or more endoscopic resections are required for complete tumor removal. Appropriate adenomas for endoscopic resection included tumors <3.6 cm that do not extend far enough intraductally (on EUS) to preclude an endoscopic snare ampullectomy.

Currently, the strategy for real-time endoscopic diagnosis of duodenal, including ampullary, adenoma is still unclear. In the era of high-definition and magnification endoscopy, using this modality for the detection and diagnosis of these neoplasms is very challenging for endoscopists. Over the past 10 years, many instruments have been developed to improve the detection rate of duodenal and ampullary polyps and to distinguish between adenoma and non-adenoma. The present review will focus on these novel methods and their usefulness in the diagnosis of ampullary and non-ampullary adenoma.

We report an interesting and rare case of a man with adenomyomatous hyperplasia of the ampulla of Vater presenting as acute pancreatitis, which to our knowledge, is only the second reported case in the English literature. The patient presented with an acute onset of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, without fever, chills or rigours. CT of the abdomen revealed changes of acute pancreatitis with a peripancreatic adenopathy, and abdominal ultrasound revealed a slightly hyperechoic and oedematous head of the pancreas, consistent with acute pancreatitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography revealed an ampullary lesion. Pathology of the ampullary lesion revealed an inflammatory polyp. Endoscopic ultrasound with endoscopic mucosal resection of the lesion revealed an adenomyomatous hyperplasia. The patient recovered well postendoscopic resection without recurrent pancreatitis or cholestasis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (CAV) after surgery. The clinicopathological factors related to the recurrence and prognosis of 162 CAV patients after surgical resection were retrospectively analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.32 % and the 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival of the 162 subjects were 55.1 and 51.7 %, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that an advanced T stage (P = 0.002), lymph nodal metastasis (P = 0.002), poor differentiation (P = 0.006), tumor size (P = 0.033), tumor stage (P = 0.001), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 199 serum levels (P = 0.000), pancreatic invasion (P = 0.001), chemotherapy/radiation therapy (P = 0.006), and jaundice (P = 0.012) were factors that significantly affected the prognosis of CAV. Multivariate analysis showed that the pancreatic invasion (P = 0.009), lymph nodal metastasis (P = 0.009), and increased CA199 serum level (P = 0.001) were independent risk factors of recurrence. The pancreatic invasion, lymph nodal metastasis, and increased CA199 serum level are key prognostic factors of CAV after surgery.

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

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.

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.

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.

Heterotaxy designates rare congenital disorders of organ positioning in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, which can be associated with numerous anomalies, complicating the surgical management because of the loss of conventional anatomic landmarks.

A 72-year-old man was found to have asymptomatic cholestasis. Further workup included computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography that revealed anomalies of lateralization of digestive organs associated with intestinal malrotation and polysplenia, and a stone-like element in the main bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failed to extract the lesion. Laparotomy found no stone, but a polypoid tumor with ampullary implantation. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was judged unreasonable due to the presence of macroscopic cirrhosis and a complete ampullectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed a hamartomatous polyp.

The unusual angle of the duodenoscope in a left-sided duodenum may have contributed to the improper pre-operative diagnosis. Endosonography could have recognized the tissular origin of the lesion and prompted a more detailed preoperative planning. It was fortunate that the patient ended up receiving the appropriate treatment despite the absence of an adequate pre-operative diagnosis, as the option of performing an extended resection was ruled out due to the presence of cirrhosis.

Although heterotaxy leads to increased technical difficulties in performing usual endoscopic and surgical procedures, it can be safely managed by experienced surgeons as illustrated by the present case. Imaging modalities have limited sensitivity in the diagnosis of small ampullary tumors. As false-negatives are likely to occur, this possibility should guide the choice of the best operation.

Endoscopic papillectomy is increasingly performed with curative intent for benign papillary tumors. This study was performed to identify factors that predict the presence of malignancy and affect endoscopic success.

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who received an endoscopic papillectomy for papillary adenoma from 2006 to 2009.

A total of 43 patients received endoscopic papillectomy. The pathologic results after papillectomy revealed adenocarcinoma in five patients (12%), and the risk of malignancy was high in cases of large lesions, preprocedural pathology of high-grade dysplasia or high serum alkaline phosphatase. Endoscopic success was observed in 37 patients (86%) at the end of follow-up (mean duration, 10.4±9.6 months). The factor significantly affecting success was a complete resection at the initial papillectomy (p=0.007). Two patients experienced recurrence 10 and 32 months after the complete resection, but both achieved endoscopic success with repeated endoscopic treatment. Six patients with endoscopic failure received surgical resection.

Endoscopic papillectomy is a safe and effective method for the curative resection of benign papillary tumors, especially when complete resection is achieved at the initial papillectomy. Follow-up with surveillance should be performed for at least 3 years because of the possible recurrence of tumors during these periods.

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness, morbidity, and mortality associated with endoscopic ampullectomy (EA) and surgical ampullectomy (SA).

The proposed management of benign ampullary lesions includes local resection (EA or SA) and en bloc resection (pancreaticoduodenectomy). Most agree that en bloc resection entails a significant morbidity and mortality. No study has previously compared EA and SA for the treatment of benign ampullary lesions.

Medical records of patients selected for ampullectomy at Duke University Medical Center from 1991 to 2010 were reviewed.

After review, 109 patients were confirmed to have undergone ampullectomy for a suspected benign ampullary lesion. Sixty-eight patients underwent EA, whereas 41 patients underwent SA. Patients in each group were identical in terms of age, sex, race, and comorbid conditions, except that EA had a higher rate of severe obesity (body mass index >35). Endoscopic ampullectomy was found to have a significantly reduced length of stay, lower morbidity, and readmission rates, but it had similar rates of mortality, margin-positive excisions, and reinterventions.

In patients selected for ampullectomy for benign ampullary lesions, EA was found to have equivalent efficacy when compared with SA. Moreover, EA had lower morbidity and identical mortality. These findings suggest that patients would likely benefit from an aggressive endoscopic approach before consideration for surgery.

Ampulla of Vater carcinomas are rare malignancies that have been traditionally treated with radical surgical resection. Given the mortality associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy, some patients may benefit from local resection. A single-institution outcomes analysis was performed to define the role of local resection.

Patients undergoing local resection (ampullectomy) for ampullary carcinomas at Duke University between 1976 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Time-to-event analysis was conducted analyzing all patients undergoing surgery, with and without adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Overall survival (OS), local control (LC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were studied using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

A total of 17 patients with invasive carcinoma underwent ampullectomy. The 3-and 5-year LC, MFS, DFS and OS rates were 36% and 24%, 68% and 54%, 31% and 21%, and 35% and 21%, respectively. Patients receiving adjuvant CRT did not appear to have improved outcomes compared with surgery alone, although this group tended to have poorer histological grade, more advanced tumor staging and involved surgical margins.

Ampullectomy for invasive ampullary adenocarcinomas is a safe procedure but does not offer satisfactory long-term results, mostly due to high local failure rates. Adjuvant CRT therapy does not appear to offer increased local control or survival benefit following ampullectomy, although these results may suffer from selection bias and small sample size. Local resection should be limited to benign ampullary lesions or patients with very small, early tumors with favorable histologic features where radical resection is not feasible.

The role of pancreas-sparing duodenectomy (PSD) in the treatment of ampullary carcinoma (Amp Ca) with local lymph node metastasis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and long-term prognosis of PSD with regional lymphadenectomy in the treatment of early-stage (pTis/pT1) Amp Ca with or without regional lymph node metastasis.

Between May 2005 and November 2009, 31 consecutive patients with Amp Ca were enrolled in this study; 25 underwent PSD. A retrospective control group of 28 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for Amp Ca during the same period was established. These 2 groups were matched in terms of demographic data, tumor size, and TNM classification.

In the PSD group, 9 patients (36%) had regional lymph node metastasis, and 23 patients (92%) had R0 resection. Patients who underwent PSD achieved favorable results in intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospital stay, and morbidity rate. The 3-year overall and disease-free survival in PSD group were 72% and 61%, respectively. There were no differences in hospital mortality and long-term survival between the 2 groups, even for patients with lymph node metastasis (N1).

PSD with regional lymphadenectomy is feasible and safe in the treatment of pTis/pT1 Amp Ca with or without regional lymph node metastasis. Long-term survival and morbidity rates are also favorable. PSD can be performed as an alternative of PD in selected patients with Amp Ca.

Tumors arising from the ampulla of Vater can be benign or malignant. Recently, endoscopic papillectomy has been employed in the management of benign ampulla of Vater tumors; however, surgical resection is the treatment of choice. The aim of this study was to define indications and suggest a role for transduodenal ampullectomy in the management of ampulla of Vater tumors.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 54 patients treated for ampulla of Vater tumors between January 1999 and December 2008.

Twenty-two endoscopic papillectomies and 21 transduodenal ampullectomies were performed. Four patients underwent transduodenal ampullectomy after endoscopic papillectomy due to a recurrent or remnant tumor. Recurrence or a remnant tumor was found in one patient after transduodenal ampullectomy compared to six patients after endoscopic papillectomy. Immediate intraoperative conversion from transduodenal ampullectomy to pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in five patients based on intraoperative frozen biopsy analysis.

Transduodenal ampullectomy should be performed to treat ampulla of Vater tumors that are unsuitable for endoscopic papillectomy. Transduodenal ampullectomy can serve as an intermediate treatment option between endoscopic papillectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy in the management of ampulla of Vater tumors.

Ampullary tumors have to be completely resected, but substantial morbidity and mortality rates are associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Local resection can be the procedure of choice in selected ampullary lesions for high-risk patients.

Preoperative examination indicated that the ampullary tumor extended into the common bile duct without evidence of pancreatic duct involvement and no definite invasion into either the duodenum or the pancreas. We performed a complete resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and the ampulla of Vater, including the tumor, without performing PD by dissecting the intrapancreatic bile duct from the pancreas both downward towards the ampulla of Vater and upward using a transduodenal approach.

The operation was successfully completed, and the postoperative course was uneventful, with the exception of a minor pancreatic fistula from retropancreatic dissection. The final pathological examination demonstrated well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosa with negative surgical margins.

Complete resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and the ampulla of Vater through a transduodenal approach can be a feasible and safe surgical procedure for selected ampullary tumors in high-risk patients.

Adenomatous lesions of the ampulla of Vater are relatively rare neoplasms that raise many questions regarding standard management. Adenocarcinoma often will be found in ampullary lesions and should be treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Benign-appearing adenomas may be treated by PD, transduodenal ampullectomy (AMP), or endoscopic ampullectomy (EA). AMP and EA have decreased morbidity and mortality compared with PD but are limited by concerns for appropriate resection margins, high recurrence rates, and the need for surveillance endoscopy or additional procedures. Preoperative endoscopic biopsies should be obtained to identify carcinoma, but they have high false-negative rates and cannot be relied upon to rule out malignancy. Intraoperative frozen section evaluation should be requested routinely during AMP, with conversion to PD if carcinoma is demonstrated. The gold standard management of benign adenomas has not been clarified, but the goal for all treatment modalities is complete resection. Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis may be exceptions to this, and routine surveillance endoscopy and biopsy with selective resection have been advocated by some as an alternative to complete resection. Adjuvant chemoradiation has a very limited role in the treatment of ampullary carcinoma and ideally should be offered in the setting of a clinical trial. Metastatic and locally advanced, unresectable lesions may be palliated by surgical or endoscopic bypass, as well as by celiac plexus blockade.

Although pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) provides the best chance of survival for elderly patients with ampullary carcinoma, it is associated with considerable surgical risk. The aim of the present study was to compare the benefits and risks of pancreaticoduodenectomy as a treatment of ampullary carcinoma between young and elderly patients.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 171 consecutive patients treated at our hospital. Comparison of the biological aggressiveness of ampullary cancer between old and younger patients was also performed by immunohistochemical study of several prognostic biological markers, including MUC1, MUC2, CK17, and CDX2.

For patients in whom ampullary carcinoma was presumed resectable preoperatively, actuarial survival was significantly poorer in 55 elderly patients because 9 of them did not have PD (the other 46 had PD) than in 101 younger patients (all had PD). Multivariate analysis indicated that PD was the only independent prognostic factor; age was not. There were no significant differences in MUC1, CK17, MUC2, and CDX2 immunohistochemical staining of ampullary carcinomas between elderly and young patients. In spite of increased co-morbidities, PD could be performed as safely in elderly patients as in young patients. After PD, the actuarial survival was similar between old and young patients.

Our data support the conclusion that ampullary cancers in elderly patients should be treated as aggressively as in younger patients.

Transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA) can be performed for benign and premalignant tumors of the ampulla of Vater (AOV) as an alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy. However, the laparoscopic approach has rarely been attempted. In this report 2 cases of benign ampullary tumor that were treated by totally laparoscopic TDA.

Case 1 was of a 75-year-old female who was admitted with left knee pain and underwent arthroscopic debridement. On postoperative day 6, she showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, aspirate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, without any other laboratory test abnormality. She had no complaint of abdominal pain, and physical examinations were unremarkable. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRCP), and endoscopy revealed a 2-cm-sized polypoid mass at the AOV. Subsequent endoscopic biopsy showed a pathologic finding of tubular adenoma. Case 2 was of a 55-year-old man who was admitted with an duodenal mass incidentally detected by screening endoscopy in a community hospital. Abdominal CT, endoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a 2.5-cm-sized tumor located at the duodenal papilla with possible extension to the ampullary sphincter. Endoscopic biopsy revealed gangliocytic paraganglioma. Both patients underwent laparoscopic transduodenal ampullectomy.

Operative times were 200 and 250 minutes, respectively, and estimated blood loss during both operations was about 50 mL. Patients were discharged on the postoperative days 9 and 8, respectively, without any complication. Postoperative histologic examinations revealed tubular adenoma with low-grade dysplasia in 1 patient and gangliocystic paraganglioma in the other.

These 2 cases demonstrate that laparoscopic TDA is a feasible operative procedure in selective patients with a benign or premalignant tumor at the AOV.

Many specialists justify pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic head neoplasms with suspected but unproven malignance (blind-PD). Our aim in this study was to determine whether blind-PD is also justified for ampullary neoplasms.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with presumed resectable ampullary neoplasms treated at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1998 to 2008.

Of the 84 patients without a preoperative tissue diagnosis of malignance, 64 had blind-PD and 20 had ampullectomy (AMP) with intraoperative frozen section. Patients with jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, imaging findings showing tumor invasion, and larger tumor size were significantly more frequently treated by blind-PD. Final pathological diagnosis was benign in ten of 64 blind-PD-treated patients.

Our data support a selective use of blind-PD because (1) a significant portion (65%) of benign ampullary neoplasms can be safely and effectively treated by AMP, (2) blind-PD does not treat ampullary cancer at earlier stage, and (3) blind-PD is associated with significantly more complications and significantly longer hospital stay than AMP. However, blind-PD is strongly recommended for patients with large ampullary neoplasms (>3 cm in diameter), with jaundice, or with malignant endoscopic appearance.

This study was designed to provide safe management guidelines for ampullary adenoma by analysis of clinicopathological features.

The treatment of ampullary cancer has been established; however, the indications for treatment of ampullary adenoma remain controversial.

Between July 1997 and July 2008, a total of 33 patients were diagnosed with ampullary adenoma prior to procedures: 20 endoscopic papillectomies (ESP), 5 transduodenal resections (TDR), and 8 pancreatoduodenectomies (PD).

The false-negative rate of biopsy for cancer was 27.5% (8/29). Coexistence of cancer in patients with pre-high-grade dysplasia (HGD) was 50.0% (5/10), whereas it was 15.7% in pre-low-grade dysplasia (LGD). In addition, the rate of recurrence was 80% (8/10) in patients with pre-HGD. The size of tumor by final pathology was 1.27 +/- 0.89 cm in LGD, 1.81 +/- 0.99 cm in HGD, and 1.98 +/- 1.08 cm in cancer group. There was a significant correlation between size of tumor and final pathology (P = 0.036). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, criterion to predict HGD/cancer was tumor size larger than 1.5 cm; sensitivity and specificity were 55.6% and 80.0%, respectively, and likelihood ratio was 2.778. However, size of tumor was not associated with preprocedural pathology.

Ampullary adenoma with preprocedural HGD was highly associated with coexistence of cancer and recurrence. Moreover, most of large tumors were treated by surgical procedures and proved to be cancer. Therefore, we suggest that ampullary adenoma with preprocedural HGD or more than 1.5 cm should not be managed with endoscopic papillectomy due to high associated rates of recurrence.

Although endoscopic papillectomy has been attempted in early stage ampullary cancer (pTis, T1), its curative role and indications remain uncertain. The present study was designed to assess the factors that predict malignancy and lymph node metastasis and to suggest potential indications for endoscopic papillectomy by analyzing clinicopathological data.

We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical and histopathological data of 216 patients with ampullary cancer between 1991 and 2006.

No tumor in pTis stage had metastasized to lymph nodes and only 9% of tumors in pT1 had metastasized. Tumor size (P = 0.018), depth of invasion (P = 0.021) and venous invasion (P = 0.014) were found to be significantly related to lymph node metastasis. Cases with early stage ampullary cancer of less than 2 cm with a well-differentiated histology and no angiolymphatic invasion (n = 13) showed no lymph node metastasis and no recurrence during a median follow up of 35.9 months.

Endoscopic papillectomy can be adopted as a viable alternative to surgery in patients with early stage ampullary cancer of less than 2 cm in size and with a well-differentiated histology. When a resected specimen has a well-differentiated histology, and there is no resection margin involvement and no angiolymphatic invasion, our findings indicate that subsequent radical surgery is unnecessary.

Transduodenal ampullectomy is a procedure that can be used to remove either benign or malignant tumors arising from the ampulla of Vater. Specific indications for performing this procedure remain controversial. In this report, we describe the technical details necessary for successfully completing an ampullectomy.

The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with lymphadenectomy for ampullary carcinoma. The records of 46 consecutive patients with ampullary carcinoma who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy from 1988 through 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. A 98% rate of potentially curative (R0) resection was achieved. There was no 30-day mortality. Overall 5-year survival rate was 64%. Univariate analysis revealed that T3 and T4 tumor (i.e., pancreatic parenchymal invasion) (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.01), and perineural invasion (P < 0.001) were significant predictors of poor prognosis. Furthermore, perineural invasion was found to be a significant independent predictor of poor prognosis by multivariate analysis (P = 0.024). Pancreatoduodenectomy with lymphadenectomy for ampullary carcinoma is a safe surgical procedure with an acceptable cure rate. The presence of perineural invasion may be useful for predicting poor prognosis in patients with ampullary carcinoma who undergo potentially curative resection.