Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum: management and survival in 67 patients

Primary small intestinal malignant tumors: survival analysis of 48 postoperative patients

BACKGROUND

Primary small intestinal malignant tumor is relatively uncommon compared to gastric and colorectal cancer. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis due to the atypical primary symptoms and lack of effective diagnostic methods.

GOALS

To analyze the relationship between the prognoses, histologic type, and therapeutic strategy in postoperative patients with small intestinal tumor.

STUDY

The parameters that affect survival were evaluated using multivariate Cox analysis in 48 cases of small intestinal tumor (confirmed by operation and pathology) for the past 10 years.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) of all 48 cases after surgery was 28 months. The 5-year postoperative survival rate for all of the 48 cases was 27.1%. The median OS for all the 20 stage II/III patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy was 28 months, whereas the median OS for the 15 patients who did not receive the therapy was 37 months (P=0.276). The median time to progression for 8 patients with adenocarcinoma who received 5-fluorouracil or platinum-based palliative chemotherapy was 7 months, whereas for the patients who did not receive the therapy it was 3 months (P=0.06). The result of multivariate analyses showed that only the clinical stage was significantly correlated with OS (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis for small intestinal malignancies is associated with clinical stage, and palliative chemotherapy with a 5-fluorouracil or platinum-based regimen offers a potential benefit to patients with adenocarcinoma. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy seems to hold no therapeutic or survival benefit for patients with primary small bowel malignancies.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma: patterns of failure after resection and the role of chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

To report patterns of disease recurrence after resection of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum and compare outcomes between patients undergoing surgery only vs. surgery with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CT-RT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This was a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing potentially curative therapy for adenocarcinoma of the duodenum at Duke University Medical Center and affiliated hospitals between 1975 and 2005. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local control (LC) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate regression analysis evaluated the effect of CT-RT on clinical endpoints.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were identified (23 M, 9 F). Median age was 60 years (range, 32-77 years). Surgery alone was performed in 16 patients. An additional 16 patients received either preoperative (n = 11) or postoperative (n = 5) CT-RT. Median RT dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 12.6-54 Gy). All patients treated with RT also received concurrent 5-fluorouracil-based CT. Two patients treated preoperatively had a pathologic complete response (18%), and none had involved lymph nodes at resection. Five-year OS, DFS, and LC for the entire group were 48%, 47%, and 55%, respectively. Five-year survival did not differ between patients receiving CT-RT vs. surgery alone (57% vs. 44%, p = 0.42). However, in patients undergoing R0 resection, CT-RT appeared to improve OS (5-year 83% vs. 53%, p = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Local failure after surgery alone is high. Given the patterns of relapse with surgery alone and favorable outcomes in patients undergoing complete resection with CT-RT, the use of CT-RT in selected patients should be considered.

Adjuvant chemotherapy for small intestine adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Although the small intestine represents 75% of the length and over 90% of the mucosal surface of the alimentary tract, it is the site of only about 2% of malignant gastrointestinal tumours. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histological subtype, accounting for about 40% of all malignant small intestinal tumours. The infrequent occurrence when compared with malignancies of the stomach and colon is accompanied by non-specific clinical symptoms. The consequences are a significant delay in diagnosis and the finding of advanced, incurable disease at operation. Wide surgical resection of early lesions is the only potentially curative treatment, but it is possible only in a minority of patients. The rare nature of adenocarcinomas of the small intestine has led to a paucity of information about the benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy but there are reports of overall better survival for those patients that receive combination treatment. Most chemotherapy regimens consist of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), alone or in combination with a variety of other agents like doxorubicin, cisplatin, mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide and oxaliplatin.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine compared to another adjuvant treatment, a placebo or no other adjuvant treatment.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006), PubMed and CINHAL using the Cochrane highly sensitive search strategy for randomised controlled trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Phase III randomised controlled trials comparing post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the small intestine with other adjuvant therapies, placebo or no adjuvant treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

No suitable trials were identified.

MAIN RESULTS

No studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is a need for high quality randomised controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine.

Surgical management and outcome in primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel

BACKGROUND

Primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel is a rare malignancy and is associated with poor survival outcome. Patient, tumor and treatment-related factors were analyzed for their association with recurrence and survival.

METHODS

Between 1971 and 2005, 64 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the small bowel were treated at our institution. Clinico-pathologic data, operative details, postoperative treatment, recurrence pattern and survival were reviewed.

RESULTS

The most common clinical features at presentation included abdominal pain (n = 33; 51.6%) or bowel obstruction (n = 20; 31.3%). The most frequently involved portion of the small bowel was the duodenum (n = 41; 64%). A segmental bowel resection was performed in 30 patients and pancreaticoduodenectomy in 14 patients. Postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 3.6% (n = 2) and 14.5% (n = 8), respectively. Of the 55 patients who underwent operative intervention, a curative resection was performed in 30 (54.5%). The most common sites of recurrence following a curative resection were the liver and lung. Median survival for all 64 patients was 18 months with a 5-year survival of 21.1%. On multivariate analysis, absence of distant metastatic disease (5-year survival 30.4%), curative resection (5-year survival 44.8%) and pathological T stage 1-3 (5-year survival 39.2%) were identified as independent predictors of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

A curative resection in the absence of both distant metastases and pathological T4 tumor provides the best survival outcome. Recurrence at distant sites is the predominant pattern of failure following a curative resection, suggesting a role for adjuvant therapy.

Should all patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma be considered for aggressive surgical resection?

BACKGROUND

Long-term survival for duodenal adenocarcinoma is inconsistent in the literature, and the biology of duodenal adenocarcinoma is poorly understood.

METHODS

One institution's experience with duodenal adenocarcinoma from 1984 to 2005 is reviewed. Clinicopathologic data were analyzed, and overall survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank test.

RESULTS

Of the 52 patients, 35 (67%) underwent potentially curative surgery; 31 survived the postoperative period and were included in the analysis. Of these, the median survival was 34 months (range 6 to 186 months) compared with 13 months (range 1 to 24 months) for those not undergoing curative surgery (P < or = .001). Clinicopathologic factors favoring long-term survival were tumor size >3.5 cm (P < or = .001) and T-stage < or =4 (P = .014).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicopathologic factors important to survival in duodenal cancer are T4 tumor status and tumor size. Interestingly, larger tumors were less likely to be invasive, and patients with these tumors had improved survival. The biology of this cancer is poorly understood; therefore, aggressive resection for all duodenal adenocarcinomas is recommended for all patients medically fit to undergo resection.

Possible small-bowel neoplasms: contrast-enhanced and water-enhanced multidetector CT enteroclysis

PURPOSE

To prospectively evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of contrast material-enhanced and water-enhanced multidetector computed tomographic (CT) enteroclysis in depicting small-bowel neoplasms in symptomatic patients, with endoscopic, tissue, and follow-up findings as reference standards.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study protocol was approved by the Human Research Committee of the institution, and all patients gave written informed consent. Two hundred nineteen patients (108 male, 111 female; age range, 17-98 years; mean, 53.1 years) with clinical suspicion of small-bowel neoplasm underwent contrast- and water-enhanced multidetector CT enteroclysis after normal findings of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. The prospective interpretations of CT enteroclysis results include evaluation of focal bowel wall thickening, small-bowel masses, small-bowel stenosis, mesenteric stranding, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, and visceral metastasis. Positive enteroclysis findings were compared with results of pathologic examination after surgical (n = 35) or endoscopic (n = 20) procedures. Negative results were compared with results of surgery (n = 8), enteroscopy (n = 15), capsule endoscopy (n = 14), and clinical follow-up (n = 127). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated on a per-patient basis with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Findings of CT enteroclysis were positive in 55 cases and negative in 164. The overall sensitivity and specificity in identifying patients with small-bowel lesions were 84.7% and 96.9%, respectively. The negative and positive predictive values were 94.5% and 90.9%, respectively. Findings of pathologic examination confirmed small-bowel tumor in 50 patients with carcinoid tumor (n = 19), adenocarcinoma (n = 7), lymphoma (n = 5), jejunal adenoma (n = 9), stromal tumor (n = 5), ectopic pancreas (n = 2), angiomatous mass (n = 2), or metastasis (n = 1). Five examinations resulted in false-positive findings.

CONCLUSION

Contrast- and water-enhanced multidetector CT enteroclysis had an overall accuracy of 84.7% for depiction of small-bowel neoplasms.

Impact of reconstruction methods on outcome of pancreatoduodenectomy in pancreatic cancer patients

Local recurrence is one of the most frequent forms of pancreatic cancer recurrence, although local recurrence is rare for other periampullary cancers. Because the type of recurrence and outcome differ depending on the type of cancer, these factors should be considered when the type of reconstruction is chosen. Fifty-four pancreatoduodenectomies were performed in patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas from 1994 to 2001. Billroth I reconstruction was performed in 27 consecutive patients before 1999, and thereafter Billroth II reconstruction was performed in another consecutive 27 patients. Postoperative nasogastric intubation and the duration before oral ingestion were longer for Billroth I patients than Billroth II patients. Seven complications occurred in Billroth I patients, whereas there were two complications in Billroth II patients. Disease-free survival and overall survival were not different between the two groups; however, bypass operations were required in nine patients of the Billroth I group and in one patient of the Billroth II group. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangio-drainage (PTCD) procedures were required in six patients of the Billroth I goup and in two patients of the Billroth II group. The Billroth II reconstruction may have some advantages over the Billroth I reconstruction in terms of postoperative oral ingestion and avoiding bypass surgery and PTCD at the time of recurrence.

'Metachronous' adenocarcinoma of the small intestine

Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine accounts for less than 1% of primary gastrointestinal malignancies (1). Small intestine contains 75% of the length of the gastrointestinal tract with 90% of the surface mucosal area, and yet carcinoma is rare. Symptoms of small bowel adenocarcinoma are vague and non-specific, and this region is relatively inaccessible which together contributes to their late diagnosis and poor prognosis. The authors report a case of two primary adenocarcinomas of the small intestine in the same patient.

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Clinicopathologic features and endoscopic resection of early primary nonampullary duodenal carcinoma

Early primary nonampullary duodenal carcinoma is an extremely rare disease with poorly defined clinicopathologic features; early detection of this carcinoma is not common. To clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of early primary nonampullary duodenal carcinoma and retrospectively analyze methods of treatment. Seventeen early duodenal carcinomas identified between 1994 and 2001 in 15 patients were studied. Lesions were divided into 2 groups: sporadic carcinoma (10 cases in 10 patients) and familial adenomatous polyposis associated carcinoma (7 cases in 5 patients). Clinicopathologic features and methods of treatment were compared between groups. The mean age of patients with sporadic carcinoma (63.8 years) was significantly higher than that of patients with FAP-associated carcinoma (34.9 years). The incidence of sporadic carcinoma was significantly higher in men that in women (M:F ratio 9:1); the difference between sexes in the incidence of FAP-associated carcinoma (1:4) was not significant. There was no significant difference between both groups in relation to tumor size, location, gross appearance, or histopathology. Thirteen of the duodenal tumors were treated by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), two by polypectomy, and two by open surgery. Complications were encountered in 1 of 15 cases (6%); local bleeding occurred after one EMR, but hemostasis was achieved endoscopically. The mean follow-up period for all patients was 51.7 months. No patients experienced recurrence after resection. The significant differences between patients with sporadic and those with early FAP-associated duodenal carcinoma were in age and sex. Endoscopic resection appears to be a safe and efficient treatment of carefully selected patients with early primary nonampullary duodenal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel: a study of 37 cases with emphasis on histologic prognostic factors

PURPOSE

Primary small-bowel adenocarcinoma is uncommon. There are few large studies that have evaluated the prognostic impact of clinical and pathologic parameters. The purpose of this study was to perform a comprehensive analysis of the Cleveland Clinic experience with small-bowel adenocarcinoma, with emphasis on histopathologic parameters as prognostic indicators.

METHODS

Thirty-seven cases of primary small-bowel adenocarcinomas resected at the Cleveland Clinic between 1978 and 1999 were retrospectively studied. Metastatic tumors and those arising from the biliary system were excluded from analysis. Clinical and pathologic data were recorded and their impact on prognosis was evaluated by either Kaplan-Meier or Cox proportional hazards analysis.

RESULTS

The cohort included 25 males, and the age range was 24 to 82 (mean, 56) years. Tumor location was duodenum (18), jejunum (10), ileum (2), and site not specified (7). Patients most frequently presented with abdominal pain (48 percent), anemia (39 percent) and small-bowel obstruction (33 percent). Underlying conditions included Crohn's disease (4) and familial adenomatous polyposis (2). Overall survival was 52 and 47 percent at 5 and 10 years, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 50.5 (range, 0.5-184) months for all patients. Features found to be negative prognostic factors for survival were positive surgical margins (P < 0.001), extramural venous spread (P < 0.001), lymph node metastases (P = 0.038), poor tumor differentiation (P = 0.015), depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.023), and history of Crohn's disease (P < 0.001). Age, gender, tumor size, growth pattern, lymphocytic host response, and adjuvant therapy did not affect survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathologic features, including positive surgical margins, extramural venous spread, positive lymph nodes, poor tumor differentiation, depth of tumor invasion, and history of Crohn's disease, are of major prognostic significance in small-bowel adenocarcinoma. Although many of these prognostic features are similar to the ones used for colorectal adenocarcinoma, they are easily applicable and reproducible for small-bowel adenocarcinomas. This is important considering the often dismal prognosis of small-bowel adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel

Cancer of the small bowel is a rare entity but its incidence is rising. Historically, outcome is poor despite apparent curative resection. At present surgery remains the only treatment modality of proven benefit in the management of this disease. Recent data would suggest 5-year survival rates in the order of 40-50% at all sites of small bowel cancer. To improve upon this, earlier diagnosis with a high index of suspicion and multicentre adjuvant therapy trials are required.

Biologic and clinical significance of lymphadenectomy

Interest in the lymphatic system and its relationship to metastases has developed owing to renewed interest in sentinel node biopsy. This article summarizes the anatomy, physiology, and biology of the lymphatic system and lymph node metastases, and reviews studies of lymph node metastases and surgical resection of cancers in different anatomic sites. On the basis of these studies, the authors conclude that lymph node metastasis functions as an indicator of prognosis, not the controlling or determining factor of prognosis. Thus, varying degrees of treatment of regional lymph nodes and metastases do not seem to be controlling factors in the outcome of cancer.

The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society. Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel: review of the National Cancer Data Base, 1985-1995

BACKGROUND

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) accounts for 2% of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and 1% of GI cancer deaths. The objective of this study was to review the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify case-mix characteristics, patterns of treatment, and factors influencing survival of patients with SBA.

METHODS

NCDB data from patients diagnosed with primary SBA between 1985-1995 were analyzed. Chi-square statistics were used to compare differences between groups. Disease specific survival (DSS) was calculated using the life table method for patients diagnosed between 1985-1990; univariate differences in survival were compared using the Wilcoxon statistic, and multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox regression model.

RESULTS

There were 4995 SBA cases reported to the NCDB between 1985-1995, 55% of which occurred in the duodenum, 18% in the jejunum, 13% in the ileum, and 14% in nonspecified sites. The overall 5-year DSS was 30.5%, with a median survival of 19.7 months. By multivariate analysis, factors significantly correlated with DSS included patient age, tumor site, disease stage, and whether cancer-directed surgery was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

SBA is found most commonly in the duodenum, and patient DSS is reduced at this site compared with those patients with jejunal or ileal tumors. This reduction in survival was associated with a lower percentage of cancer-directed surgery. Patients age > 75 years had a reduced DSS and more duodenal tumors, and were less frequently treated by cancer-directed surgery than their younger counterparts. This study reflects the experience with SBA from a large cross-section of U.S. hospitals, allowing for the identification of prognostic factors and providing a reference with which results from single institutions may be compared.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum in the elderly: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 17 cases

Seventeen cases of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma occurring in the elderly (older than 65 years) were examined to clarify their clinicopathological features and biological behavior. The mean age was 77.4 years (range, 66-104), and there was no appreciable difference in the incidence between the sexes (female: male ratio, 8: 9). Thirteen patients had tumors located in the first portion of the duodenum, three in the second portion and one in the third portion. Grossly, there were three varieties of lesions: six polypoid, four flat-elevated and seven ulcerative-invasive. Sixteen cases showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, three of which were difficult to distinguish from adenoma, and one was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Three of 16 tumors had poor differentiation in the invasive area, whereas mucosal lesions were well differentiated. Eight tumors had invaded the duodenal wall with occasional involvement of the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated p53 protein overexpression in two intramucosal (22.2%) and five invasive (62.5%) cancers. In the intramucosal area the mean Ki-67-positive rate (PR) of the tumors with distant metastasis was significantly higher than that of the tumors without metastasis (46.0 vs 31.6%; P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the association between PR and gross feature or depth of the tumors. Clinical follow-up showed three of the five patients with invasive cancer died of carcinoma within 28 months. Compared with published data from other investigators, the results of the present study indicate a proximal shift of duodenal carcinoma in the elderly. Furthermore, it is concluded that invasive duodenal adenocarcinomas with high PR should be considered as potentially aggressive tumors, although their histology may indicate a high degree of differentiation.

Periampullary adenocarcinoma: analysis of 5-year survivors

OBJECTIVE

This single-institution experience retrospectively reviews the outcomes in a group of patients treated 5 or more years ago by pancreaticoduodenectomy for periampullary adenocarcinoma.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Controversy exists regarding the benefit of resection for periampullary adenocarcinoma, particularly for pancreatic tumors. Many series report only Kaplan-Meier actuarial 5-year survival rates. There are believed to be discrepancies between the actuarial 5-year survival data and the actual 5-year survival rates.

METHODS

From April 1970 through May 1992, 242 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenal resection for periampullary adenocarcinoma at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Follow-up was complete through May 1997. All pathology specimens were reviewed and categorized. Actual 5-year survival rates were calculated. The demographic, intraoperative, pathologic, and postoperative features of patients surviving > or =5 years were compared with those of patients who survived <5 years.

RESULTS

Of the 242 patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma, 149 (62%) were pancreatic primaries, 46 (19%) arose in the ampulla, 30 (12%) were distal bile duct cancers, and 17 (7%) were duodenal cancers. There was a 5.3% operative mortality rate during the 22 years of the review, with a 2% operative mortality rate in the last 100 patients. There were 58 5-year survivors, 28 7-year survivors, and 7 10-year survivors. The tumor-specific 5-year actual survival rates were pancreatic 15%, ampullary 39%, distal bile duct 27%, and duodenal 59%. When compared with patients who did not survive 5 years, the 5-year survivors had a significantly higher percentage of well-differentiated tumors (14% vs. 4%; p = 0.02) and higher incidences of negative resection margins (98% vs. 73%, p < 0.0001) and negative nodal status (62% vs. 31%, p < 0.0001). The tumor-specific 10-year actuarial survival rates were pancreatic 5%, ampullary 25%, distal bile duct 21%, and duodenal 59%.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma treated by pancreaticoduodenectomy, those with duodenal adenocarcinoma are most likely to survive long term. Five-year survival is less likely for patients with ampullary, distal bile duct, and pancreatic primaries, in declining order. Resection margin status, resected lymph node status, and degree of tumor differentiation also significantly influence long-term outcome. Particularly for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 5-year survival is not equated with cure, because many patients die of recurrent disease >5 years after resection.

Duodenal obstruction: diagnosis by gastroduodenal manometry

Establishing the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the distal duodenum is often difficult based on findings on barium radiography and routine endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. A characteristic manometric pattern of simultaneous, prolonged contractions of the small intestine after a meal has been associated with mechanical obstruction of the small intestine. Herein we describe a 68-year-old woman who had a 4-month history of nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Findings on endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract and a barium contrast examination of the stomach, duodenum, and small bowel were interpreted as normal. A radionuclide scan suggested mildly delayed gastric emptying. Gastroduodenal manometry revealed high-amplitude, simultaneous contractions in the third and fourth portions of the duodenum but not in the jejunum, findings highly suggestive of a mechanical obstruction in the distal duodenum. At laparotomy, an obstructing adenocarcinoma of the duodenum proximal to the ligament of Treitz was resected. Subtle abnormalities were detected retrospectively on the barium contrast study of the small bowel. In patients with features suggestive of intestinal obstruction, gastroduodenal manometry may be helpful in distinguishing mechanical causes from pseudo-obstruction.

Incidence and treatment of periampullary duodenal cancer in the U.S. veteran patient population

BACKGROUND

Because fewer than 1000 cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum have been reported, earlier series are limited by local referral patterns and the long periods of time needed for retrospective reviews.

METHODS

This study reports the outcomes of preiampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma treatments in all hospitals of the Department of Veterans Affairs from 1987 through 1991, using computer and tumor registry records. Patients were grouped by their most aggressive treatment (resection > operative bypass > percutaneous biliary intubation) and survival calculated from the date of this procedure.

RESULTS

Of 2185 patients with periampullary cancers (1753 pancreatic, 432 other periampullary), 85 were duodenal and thus comprised only 4% of periampullary tumors. Thirty-four duodenal cancers were resected, 44 bypassed, and 7 had biliary intubation, with 30-day mortality rates of 6%, 18%, and 0%, respectively. Mean survival exceeded 1 year in all groups, and resection resulted in a significant increase in mean survival (784 vs. 438 days for nonresection, P = 0.01). The projected 5-year survival rate after resection was 23%. Mean survival after resection of 9 Stage I-II cancers was 668 days, but was similar after 5 resections with nodal or other metastases. Similarly, survival did not correlate with cancer stage in 13 palliated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This large study of patients with duodenal cancer provides a unique perspective of disease prevalence and response to surgical treatment. Prolonged survival is common with any treatment, but the longest survivals were after resection.