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.