Primary duodenal neoplasms: A retrospective clinico-pathological analysis

A Case of Duodenal Adenocarcinoma Effectively Highlighted by Linked Color Imaging and Confirmed by Histopathology

While the differential diagnosis of duodenal adenocarcinoma versus adenoma remains the key to determining treatment strategies in patients with suspected duodenal adenocarcinoma, the role of linked color imaging (LCI) in their differential diagnosis remains insufficiently documented. In this case, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed on a 67-year-old man for anemia, which revealed a 20-mm-sized, whitish, partially reddish, pedunculated lesion located in the duodenal bulb on white light imaging. Using LCI, the lesion was highlighted as a whitish, pedunculated lesion with its central and inferior areas depicted as orangish and reddish, respectively. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed on the suspicion of an adenocarcinoma for biopsy and endoscopic diagnosis. Histological examination revealed the lesion to be an adenocarcinoma contained in an adenoma: papillary, type 0-Ip, measuring 20x20 mm, pTis (M), involving no lymphovascular invasion. This case appears to underpin the usefulness of LCI in the differential diagnosis of duodenal adenocarcinoma.

An adult case of small bowel intussusception caused by hemangioma presenting with intestinal obstruction: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Both small bowel intussusception in adults and small bowel hemangioma are rare benign mass lesions. Moreover, a secondary effect of intussusception caused by hemangioma is extremely rare.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 87-year-old female suffered from intussusception and intestinal obstruction caused by hemangioma located in the small bowel (February 14, 2020), reporting abdominal distention without nausea and vomiting.

DIAGNOSIS

Emergency abdominal and pelvic computed tomography showed an intussusception with the evidence of associated small bowel obstruction. Histological analysis revealed as small intestinal hemangioma accompanied by mesenteric ulcer.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent segmental resection of intussusception of intestine instead of invalid conservative treatment.

OUTCOMES

Although the postoperative pathological results were inconsistent with preoperative imaging examination, the old woman recovered well.

CONCLUSION

The literature on intussusception of small intestine has described several possible causes including hemangioma, which more likely results in gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal pain. Yet we experienced a rare case presenting as abdominal distention without nausea and vomiting, Therefore, preoperative diagnosis and localization of these lesions is of great importance. We recommend high resolution contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in diagnosis while capsule endoscopy is not available owing to the intestinal obstruction, as long as in facilitating surgical excision.

Surgical treatment of duodenal adenocarcinoma: ampullary vs. non-ampullary, short- and long-term outcomes

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate symptoms, diagnostic methods, short- and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment in patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A single center, retrospective, observational study of 52 consecutive patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma operated on with curative intent between 2006 - 2019. Duodenectomy as part of a hemipancreatoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy procedure was performed for ADAC (ampullary duodenal/intestinal adenocarcinoma) or NADAC (non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma).

RESULTS

Prevailing symptoms were obstructive jaundice in the ADAC group (P<0.0001) and bleeding in the NADAC group (P=0.005), with larger tumor size in patients with NADAC (P=0.001). Complication rate, morbidity and mortality were comparable. Primary total pancreatoduodenectomy predominated in the NADAC group, 16.6% vs. 2.9%, and salvage completion pancreatectomy in the ADAC group, 6% vs. 0%. Significant prognostic factors for OS were perineural invasion (P=0.006) and adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.045) in the ADAC group, and for DFS the total number of resected lymph nodes (P=0.042) and lymph node ratio (P=0.031) in the NADAC group. Median OS is 21 months and 5-year survival 27.3% in the NADAC group and 41.5 months and 52% in the ADAC group.

CONCLUSION

Ampullary duodenal/intestinal adenocarcinomas are smaller than non-ampullary at diagnosis, with a higher rate of lymph node metastases, but with a better prognosis and long-term outcome in the presented cohort. Oral localisation of NADAC prevailed in the present cohort. Perineural invasion and postoperative oncological therapy are significant prognostic factors for OS in ADAC, but the total number of lymph nodes and lymph node ratio are significant prognostic factors for DFS in NADAC.

Rare Finding of Inflammatory Fibroid Polyp of the Duodenum: A Complete Diagnostic and Pathological Workup

Inflammatory fibroid polyps (IFP) are solitary benign tumors rarely found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Additionally, duodenal polyps are diagnosed incidentally. We present a case of a 51-year-old female admitted to the department with an initial diagnosis of duodenal polyp on gastroscopy, CT, and positron-emission tomography (PET). COVID-19 pandemics was the reason for delayed treatment which allowed the lesion to progress and almost double its size in an eight-month period. We performed conventional duodenotomy and excision of the polyp. Diseases like gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, and inflammatory polyp of Crohn’s disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis of IFP because they could be observed in the same location.

Metachronous primary colon and periampullary duodenal cancer: A case report

RATIONALE

Primary periampullary duodenal cancer accounts for 3% to 17% of periampullary cancers. There are no previous reports of metachronous primary colon and periampullary duodenal cancer.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present a case of primary periampullary duodenal cancer that occurred metachronously after colon cancer.

DIAGNOSES

Imaging and endoscopic examinations, serum tumor marker levels, and pathology confirmed metachronous colon and periampullary duodenal cancer, with 14-month interval between the diagnoses of the 2 malignancies.

INTERVENTION

The patient received right hemicolectomy combined with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy for colon cancer and pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary duodenal cancer.

OUTCOMES

The patient has been followed up for 6 years since the pancreatoduodenectomy and shows no signs of recurrence or metastasis.

LESSONS

The risk of developing a second malignancy may be associated with the site of the first tumor. Patients with right colon cancer may have particularly high risk of developing small intestinal cancer, including duodenal cancer. Early detection and active surgical treatments can improve prognosis. Long-term regular follow-up is necessary to detect new malignancies occurring after the diagnosis colon cancer.

Clinical characteristics of non-ampullary duodenal polyps in the elderly and the outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection

At present, there are no reports on non-ampullary polyps of the duodenum (NAPDs) in the elderly. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological features of NAPDs in elderly and non-elderly patients to explore the efficacy and safety of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of NAPDs in the elderly.A total of 110 patients underwent EMR of NAPDs between April 2016 and December 2019. The shape, location, size, postoperative complications, and histopathological types of NAPDs were compared between the elderly group (n = 44) and the non-elderly group (n = 66).Sessile type was the most common form of NAPD in both groups. In the elderly group, the average size of NAPDs was 12.6 ± 3.9 mm. In the non-elderly group, NAPDs had an average size of 10.1 ± 5.8 mm. Complete EMR was performed in both groups. The postoperative complications of EMR did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Postoperative pathological examination showed that tubular villous adenomas were more common in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group (P = .005), while tubular adenomas were more common in the non-elderly group than in the elderly group (P = .007). Of the 110 patients, 99 completed postoperative follow-up (median follow-up duration, 20.93 months). There were no residual or recurrent lesions.EMR is safe and effective for the treatment of NAPDs in elderly patients.

Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava with Hepatic and Pulmonary Metastases: Case Report

Sarcomas are connective tissue tumors accounting for only 1% of all adult malignancies. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a sarcoma arising from smooth muscle cells, and accounts for 10-20% of all sarcomas. A subtype of LMS are those originating from the smooth muscle of blood vessels. Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava is a sarcomatous tumor, with less than 350 cases described in the literature. It carries a poor prognosis, with 5- and 10-year survival rates of 31.4% and 7.4%, respectively. We present a case of a 46-year-old female with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with mild abdominal pain and distention, early satiety, and weight loss for three weeks, found to have unresectable metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava.

A Novel Technique for Duodenal Resection and Primary Anastomosis With Robotic Assistance and OrVil

Background and Objectives:

Benign duodenal neoplasm is a rare occurrence. Minimally invasive tumor resection and anastomosis formation with an OrVil catheter is a novel approach to treating this disease. In this article, we present a new technique for duodenojejunal anastomosis. This technique was applied in 4 patients with benign distal duodenal tumors who were treated with minimally invasive surgery with robotic assistance.

Methods:

In 4 patients, after the removal of distal duodenal masses with a robotic technique, an orifice in the duodenum was opened to allow for the passage of a guidewire. The guidewire was removed from the orifice by holding it with forceps during an upper endoscopy. An OrVil catheter was sutured to the guidewire outside to allow 2 catheters to proceed consecutively. After the removal of the anvil, an end-lateral duodenojejunostomy was performed with a circular stapler.

Results:

The patients included 3 men and 1 woman (average age, 56). The durations of the operations were 215, 175, 180, and 185 minutes. No complications were observed in any of the patients during the postoperative period. The patients began oral intake on the fifth day of the postoperative period, and they were discharged on the sixth postoperative day. Histopathologic analyses indicated that the removed tumors were adenomas in 2 patients and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) in 2 patients. Clear surgical margins were observed in all of the patients.

Conclusion:

The placement of an OrVil catheter for anastomosis in benign neoplasms with distal duodenum localization and the subsequent achievement of duodenojejunal anastomosis with a circular stapler constitute a novel treatment approach.

Brunneroma: A Rare Cause of Duodeno-duodenal Intussusception

Brunner gland hamartoma (brunneroma) is a rare benign tumor of the duodenum. It is usually asymptomatic and detected incidentally by endoscopy or other imaging modality. The definitive diagnosis is based on histopathological findings. These may mimic tumors of other natures, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), carcinoids, lipomas, and leiomyomas. Here, we present a case of duodenal polyp presenting with abdominal pain and obstructive symptoms that caused duodenal intussusception. It was surgically removed and found to be a brunneroma on histopathology.

Focus on the diagnostic problems of primary adenocarcinoma of the third and fourth portion of the duodenum. Case report

Although the small intestine constitutes over 75% of the length and 90% of the mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract, small intestine cancer is rare and accounts for only 1% of gastrointestinal malignancies. Adenocarcinoma together with carcinoid tumours are the most common histological types of primary malignant tumours of the small bowel but others, including lymphoma and leiomyosarcoma, may less frequently be encountered. Adenocarcinomas are predominantly located in the duodenum. Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is a rare malignant tumor, accounting for 0.3-0.5% of all gastroenteral malignancies. The diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of duodenum is often delayed because its symptoms and signs are nonspecific. In this work we want to focus on the diagnostic and therapeutic problems of duodenal adenocarcinoma, reporting a case report.

Approach to the endoscopic resection of duodenal lesions

Duodenal polyps or lesions are uncommonly found on upper endoscopy. Duodenal lesions can be categorized as subepithelial or mucosally-based, and the type of lesion often dictates the work-up and possible therapeutic options. Subepithelial lesions that can arise in the duodenum include lipomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and carcinoids. Endoscopic ultrasonography with fine needle aspiration is useful in the characterization and diagnosis of subepithelial lesions. Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors and large or multifocal carcinoids are best managed by surgical resection. Brunner's gland tumors, solitary Peutz-Jeghers polyps, and non-ampullary and ampullary adenomas are mucosally-based duodenal lesions, which can require removal and are typically amenable to endoscopic resection. Several anatomic characteristics of the duodenum make endoscopic resection of duodenal lesions challenging. However, advanced endoscopic techniques exist that enable the resection of large mucosally-based duodenal lesions. Endoscopic papillectomy is not without risk, but this procedure can effectively resect ampullary adenomas and allows patients to avoid surgery, which typically involves pancreaticoduodenectomy. Endoscopic mucosal resection and its variations (such as cap-assisted, cap-band-assisted, and underwater techniques) enable the safe and effective resection of most duodenal adenomas. Endoscopic submucosal dissection is possible but very difficult to safely perform in the duodenum.

A Resected Case of Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Duodenum, Mimicking Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct

Duodenum mucinous carcinoma is very rare, and the prognosis of the patient is very bad, especially when the tumor is invasive to other organs. In this case, duodenum carcinoma was invasive to common bile duct and transverse colon. Mucinous fluid, which was secreted from a duodenum tumor, was found in the dilatated bile duct. The intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct was considered a differential diagnosis. We performed aggressive resection and had a good prognosis. A 74-year-old woman received a diagnosis of cholangitis and was treated with antibiotic drugs. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a defect in the lower common bile duct with the mucoid fluid. We suspected intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct, but no malignant cells were detected. One year later, gastrointestinal fiberscopy revealed a villous tumor in the postbulbar portion of the duodenum; adenocarcinoma was detected in biopsy specimens. Computed tomography revealed dilatation of the duodenum with an enhanced tumor, and dilatation of both the common and intrahepatic bile ducts. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed that the duodenum was connected with the common bile duct and ascending colon. We resected the segmental duodenum, extrahepatic bile duct, left lobe of liver, a partial of the transverse colon, and associated lymph nodes. Although the advanced duodenal carcinoma had poor prognosis, the patient was alive, without recurrence, 5 years after the operation.

[Proteomics analysis for Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa]

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Helicobacter pylori infection is linked to the development of gastric cancer. H. pylori-associated gastric inflammation is considered to be the first important step in the histogenesis of such neoplasia. However, studies that compare proteome of gastric mucosa infected with or without H. pylori are lacking.

METHODS

We employed proteomics analysis on the endoscopic biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa obtained from two groups (30 cases): healthy subjects without H. pylori infection (15 cases), and gastritis patients with H. pylori infection (15 cases). The pooled proteins obtained from gastric mucosa infected with or without H. pylori were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and analyzed by a computer-aided program. The altered protein expressions were then identified by mass spectrometry and validated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

On mass spectrometry using MALDI TOF™ Analyzer, the up-regulation of Keratin 1, ezrin, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase subunit alpha mitochondrial isoform c, Keratin type I cytoskeletal 19, and Keratin type I cytoskeletal 9 were identified; in contrast, 71 kd heat shock cognate protein, ATP synthase subunit alpha mitochondrial precursor, and annexin IV were down-regulated. Among them, membrane cytoskeleton linker ezrin was validated using Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of ezrin was significantly different between the gastric mucosa with and without H. pylori infection. Therefore, ezrin could be considered a promising potential molecular marker for detecting H. pylori infection in gastric mucosa.

Papillary neoplasias of the biliary tract

The authors conducted a revisional study of intraepithelial papillary lesions of the bile ducts, characterized by being a kind of rare, intraductal growing cholangiocarcinoma. Articles published in the last 10 years were reviewed. The authors considered that the adenoma-carcinoma development is an important feature to warrant prophylactic measures through excisions. The histological type and biomolecular behavior may have relevance in the postoperative course of such lesions, which have a better prognosis when compared with other histological types.

A case of primary adenocarcinoma of the third portion of the duodenum resected by laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperating surgery

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Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperating surgery (LECS) enabled en bloc resection with adequate surgical margins and secure intra-abdominal suturing for duodenal neoplasms.

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Thorough mobilization of the mesocolon and pancreas head is essential for this procedure because it facilitates correct resection and suturing.

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LECS is a feasible treatment option for duodenal neoplasms.

Introduction

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma in the third portion of the duodenum (D3) curatively resected by laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperating surgery (LECS).

Presentation of case

A 65-year-old woman had a routine visit to our hospital for a follow-up of rectal cancer resected curatively 2 years ago. A routine screening gastroduodenal endoscopy revealed an elevated lesion of 20 mm in diameter in the D3. The preoperative diagnosis was adenoma with high-grade dysplasia; however, suspicion about potential adenocarcinoma was undeniable. Curative resection was performed by LECS. Pathological examination revealed intramucosal adenocarcinoma arising from normal duodenal mucosa. The tumor was stage I (T1/N0/M0) in terms of the tumor, nodes, metastasis (TNM) classification. LECS for duodenal tumor has seldom been reported previously, and this is the first report of LECS for primary adenocarcinoma in the D3. The transverse mesocolon was removed from the head of pancreas to expose the duodenum, and the accessory right colic vein was cut; this was followed by the Kocher maneuver for mobilization of the lesion site.

Discussion

LECS enabled en bloc resection with adequate surgical margins and secure intra-abdominal suturing. Thorough mobilization of the mesocolon and pancreas head is essential for this procedure because it facilitates correct resection and suturing.

Conclusion

LECS is a feasible treatment option for duodenal neoplasms, including intramucosal adenocarcinoma, even though it exists in the D3.

[DNA double strand breaks in gastric epithelium with Helicobacter pylori infection]

BACKGROUND/AIMS

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) is one of the critical types of DNA damage. If unrepaired, DSB is accumulated in the nucleus of cells, the cells become apoptotic or transform to tumor by way of genomic instability. Some of malignant cancers and its premalignant lesions were proven to have DSB in their nuclei. There was no report that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the gastric carcinogen, induce DNA DSB in gastric epithelium in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate whether H. pylori induce DSB in the gastric epithelial cells of chronic gastritis.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical stains were performed for the DSB markers, phospho-53BP1 and gH2AX, in the gastric epithelium derived from 44 peptic ulcer disease patients before and after H. pylori eradication. DNA fragmentation assay was performed in the cell line to investigate the DNA damage by H. pylori infection.

RESULTS

The mean expression score of gH2AX was significantly higher in the H. pylori infected gastric epithelium as compared to the H. pylori eradicated gastric epithelium (8.8±5.5 vs. 6.2±5.3 respectively; p=0.008). The expression score of phospho-53BP1 between before and after eradication of H. pylori was not statistically different, but tended to be higher in H. pylori infection. DNA fragmentation was developed significantly more in the cell lines after infection with H. pylori.

CONCLUSIONS

DSB of DNA damage was typical feature of H. pylori infection in the gastric epithelium.

Periampullary mass--a rare presentation of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine cancer of duodenum in a young adult: a case report and review of literature

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumour in the periampullary region of the duodenum is a rare entity. This entity usually present in old men. Here we report a periampullary poorly differentiated neuroendocrine cancer (PDEC) of duodenum presenting in a young man with subacute history of jaundice, abdominal pain, pancreatitis and constitutional symptoms. MRI localised the tumour and endoscopy-guided biopsy of the lesion proved the diagnosis. Although palliative surgery and chemotherapy were planned, the patient opted to leave against medical advice.

Adenocarcinoma of the third duodenal portion: Case report and review of literature

We focus on the diagnostic and therapeutic problems of duodenal adenocarcinoma, reporting a case and reviewing the literature. A 65-year old man with adenocarcinoma in the third duodenal portion was successfully treated with a segmental resection of the third part of the duodenum, avoiding a duodeno-cephalo-pancreatectomy. This tumor is very rare and frequently affects the III and IV duodenal portion. A precocious diagnosis and the exact localization of this neoplasia are crucial factors in order to decide the surgical strategy. Given a non-specificity of symptoms, endoscopy with biopsy is the diagnostic gold standard. Duodeno-cephalo-pancreatectomy (DCP) and segmental resection of the duodenum (SRD) are the two surgical options, with overlapping morbidity (27% vs 18%) and post operative mortality (3% vs 1%). The average incidence of postoperative long-term survival is 100%, 73.3% and 31.6% of cases after 1, 3 and 5 years from surgery, respectively. Long-term survival is made worse by two factors: the presence of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor localization in the proximal duodenum. The two surgical options are radical: DCP should be used only for proximal localizations while SRD should be chosen for distal localizations.

Prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with primary duodenal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The prognostic factors in primary duodenal adenocarcinoma remain controversial. This study evaluated the prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with primary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

From March 1996 to June 2008, the medical records of 30 patients with a final diagnosis of primary duodenal epithelial malignancy seen at two referral centers were reviewed retrospectively. The prognostic factors for survival were evaluated 6 months and 1, 2, and 5 years after the diagnosis.

RESULTS

The median survival was 5.7 months. The survival rate was 46.7% (14/30), 16.7% (5/30), 10% (3/30), and 6.7% (2/30) at 6 months and 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that cancer-directed treatment, including curative surgery or chemotherapy, was a common independent risk factor at all follow-up times. Total bilirubin, cytology, and TNM stage were independent risk factors for survival at 1, 2, and 5 years. The white blood cell count was an independent risk factor at 1 year only. The actuarial probability of survival in patients undergoing cancer-directed treatment was significantly higher than in those without treatment at 6 months (71.4 vs. 25.0%, p < 0.01), 1 year (28.6 vs. 6.3%, p < 0.01), 2 years (21.4 vs. 0%, p < 0.01), and 5 years (14.3 vs. 0%, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic factors in patients with primary duodenal adenocarcinoma were total bilirubin, TNM stage, cytology, and cancer-directed treatments until the 5-year follow-up. Especially, cancer-directed treatments improved patient survival.

The surgical treatment and outcome for primary duodenal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

To investigate the early diagnosis and outcomes of surgical treatment of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for curative purpose.

METHOD

Thirty-two PDAC patients treated surgically between February 1990 and September 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

All 32 patients underwent laparotomy including 18 (56.3%) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), six (18.7%) segmental resection (SR), and eight bypass procedures. And R0 resections were obtained in 22 patients; the other ten procedures were palliative. The total 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in this study were 78.1% (25/32), 43.8% (14/32), and 18.8% (6/32), respectively; moreover, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in patients with R0 resection were 100.0% (20/20), 70.0% (14/20), and 30.0% (6/20), which were significantly higher than those (41.7% =  /12, 0%, and 0%) in patients with palliative operation (P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate was 27.8% (5/18) in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients and 16.7% (1/6) in segmental resection patients, and there was no significant difference between the above two procedures (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PD is suggested for tumor located at the first and second portion of the duodenum, and SR may be appropriate for the selected patients especially for tumors of the distal duodenum.

Clinicopathological characteristics and survival analysis of primary duodenal cancers: a 14-year experience in a tertiary centre in South China

BACKGROUND

Primary duodenal cancer (PDC) is rare and few studies have addressed it adequately, especially in China. The present study is to evaluate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of PDC in Chinese patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All the consecutive cases confirmed as PDC by histopathological analysis in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 1995 and 2008 were included. Clinicopathological details were retrospectively analysed and prognostic factors influencing survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

The patient cohort included 53 men and 38 women, accounting for only 0.02% of all in-patients during this period. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and gastrointestinal barium radiography were mainstay diagnostic tests for PDC; they detected 88.6% and 83.3% of the tumours, respectively. Tumours mainly occurred in the descending portion of the duodenum (67.0%). Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom (56.0%). Histologically, adenocarcinoma was the most common type (74.7%). The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 62.6%, 43.7% and 33.1%, respectively. Patients survived longer in the curative surgery group (median survival time of 45 months) than those in the palliative group (6 months) (P < 0.001). Nodal metastasis and positive resection margin had a significant negative impact on survival in patients undergoing potentially curative surgery in a univariate and multivariate model (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with PDC are rare and lack specific presentations. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and gastrointestinal barium radiography are effective in screening this rare tumour. Nodal metastasis and positive resection margins are associated with a poor prognosis. A curative surgery that achieves complete resection with negative margin should be pursued.

Intra-ampullary papillary-tubular neoplasm (IAPN): characterization of tumoral intraepithelial neoplasia occurring within the ampulla: a clinicopathologic analysis of 82 cases

BACKGROUND

There has been no uniform terminology for systematic analysis of mass-forming preinvasive neoplasms (which we term tumoral intraepithelial neoplasia) that occur specifically within the ampulla. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of these neoplasms, which we propose to refer to as intra-ampullary papillary-tubular neoplasm (IAPN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and seventeen glandular neoplasms involving the ampulla were identified through a review of 1469 pancreatoduodenectomies and 11 ampullectomies. Eighty-two neoplasms characterized by substantial preinvasive exophytic component that grew almost exclusively (>75%) within the ampulla (in the ampullary channel or intra-ampullary portions of the very distal segments of the common bile duct or pancreatic duct) were analyzed.

RESULTS

(1) Clinical: The mean age was 64 years, male/female ratio was 2.4, and mean tumor size was 2.7 cm. (2) Pathology: The tumors had a mixture of both papillary and tubular growth (each constituting at least 25% of the lesion) in 57%; predominantly (>75%) papillary in 23%, and predominantly (>75%) tubular in 20%. High-grade dysplasia was present in 94% of cases, of which 39% showed focal (<25% of the lesion), 28% showed substantial (25% to 75%), and 27% showed extensive (>75%) high-grade dysplasia. In terms of cell-lineage morphology, 45% had a mixture of patterns. However, when evaluated with a forced-binary approach as intestinal (INT) versus gastric/pancreatobiliary (GPB) based on the predominant pattern, 74% were classified as INT and 26% as GPB. (3) Immunohistochemistry: Percent sensitivity/specificity of cell-lineage markers were, for INT phenotype: MUC2 85/78 and CDX2 94/61; and for GBP: MUC1 89/79, MUC5AC 95/69, and MUC6 83/76, respectively. Cytokeratin 7 and 20 were coexpressed in more than half. (4) Invasive carcinoma: In 64 cases (78%), there was an associated invasive carcinoma. Size of the tumor and amount of dysplasia correlated with the incidence of invasion. Invasive carcinoma was of INT-type in 58% and of pancreatobiliary-type in 42%. Cell lineage in the invasive component was the same as that of the preinvasive component in 84%. All discrepant cases were pancreatobiliary-type invasions, which occurred in INT-type preinvasive lesions. (5) OUTCOME: The overall survival of invasive cases were significantly worse than that of noninvasive ones (57% vs. 93%; P=0.01); and 3 years, 69% versus 100% (P=0.08); and 5 years, 45% versus 100% (P=0.07), respectively. When compared with 166 conventional invasive carcinomas of the ampullary region, invasive IAPNs had significantly better prognosis with a mean survival of 51 versus 31 months (P<0.001) and the 3-year survival of 69% versus 44% (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumoral intraepithelial neoplasia occurring within the ampulla are highly analogous to pancreatic or biliary intraductal papillary and tubular neoplasms as evidenced by their papillary and/or tubular growth, variable cell lineage, and spectrum of dysplastic change (adenoma-carcinoma sequence), and thus we propose to refer to these as IAPN. IAPNs are biologically indolent; noninvasive examples show an excellent prognosis, whereas those with invasion exhibit a malignant but nevertheless significantly better prognosis than typical invasive ampullary carcinomas unaccompanied by IAPNs. Twenty eight percent (64 of 230) of invasive carcinomas within the ampulla arise in association with IAPNs.

Expression of Ezrin and phosphorylated Ezrin (pEzrin) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

It has been suggested that ezrin activation plays a key role in the regulation of cancer metastasis. In this study, we immunohistochemically investigated the expression patterns of total ezrin and its two phosphorylated forms, pEzrin(- Thr567) and pEzrin(- Tyr353), in 66 samples of invasive pancreatic carcinomas and 11 samples of normal pancreas tissues. Positive expressions of ezrin and pEzrin(- Thr567) were detected in most PDAC tissues, significantly higher than that of pEzrin(- Tyr353). Furthermore, overexpression of pEzrin(- Tyr353) in pancreatic cancers was associated with positive lymph node metastasis, less differentiation, pAkt overexpression, and shorter survival times. pEzrin(- Tyr353) may be a potent prognosis predictor for pancreatic cancer.

Primary extra-ampullary duodenal neuroendocrine carcinoma in an adult male

A primary extra-ampullary duodenal neuroendocrine carcinoma was found in a 40-year-old man who presented with upper abdominal pain and weight loss. Duodenoscopy and hypotonic duodenography revealed a protruding fungating mass with luminal occlusion at the third part of the duodenum (D3). Although the metastatic work-up was normal, the tumor was inoperable intraoperatively, hence a palliative bypass was carried out followed by chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Examination of the biopsy by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural study revealed it to be neuroendocrine in nature, expressing synaptophysin, chromogranin and cytokeratin and containing dense core cytoplasmic granules. However, there was no evidence of clinical endocrinopathy. The present case emphasizes the need for better detection, further analysis and evaluation of such rare cases to identify their clinical course and effective treatment modalities.

The surgical treatment and outcome for primary duodenal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the early diagnosis and outcomes of surgical treatment of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for curative purpose.

METHOD

Thirty-two PDAC patients treated surgically between February 1990 and September 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

All 32 patients underwent laparotomy, including 18 patients (56.3%) pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), six patients (18.7%) segmental resection (SR), and eight patients bypass procedures. R0 resections were obtained in 22 patients; the other 10 procedures were palliative. The total 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in this study were 86.2% (25/29), 48.3% (14/29), and 20.7% (6/29), respectively, moreover, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in patients with R0 resection were 100.0% (19/19), 73.7% (14/19), and 31.6%(6/19), which were significantly higher than those (50.0% = 5/10, 0%, and 0%) in patients with palliative operation (P > 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate was 27.8% (5/18) in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients and 16.7% (1/6) in segmental resection patients, and there was no significant difference between the above two procedures (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PD is suggested for tumor located at the first and second portion of the duodenum, and SR may be appropriate for the selected patients, especially for tumors of the distal duodenum.

The surgical treatment and outcome for primary duodenal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Primary duodenal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) are uncommon tumors characterized by non-specific symptoms and late diagnosis, and treatments of PDAC have some controversies.

METHOD

To investigate the early diagnosis and outcomes of surgical treatment of PDAC, 32 patients who were treated surgically between February 1990 and September 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

All 32 patients underwent laparotomy, including 18 patients (56.3%) with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), six patients (18.7%) with segmental resection (SR), and eight patients with bypass procedures. And, R0 resections were obtained in 22 patients; the other ten procedures were palliative. The total 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in this study were 86.2% (25 of 29), 48.3% (14 of 29), and 20.7% (six of 29), respectively. Moreover, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in patients with R0 resection were 100.0% (19 of 19), 73.7% (14 of 19), and 31.6% (six of 19), which were significantly higher than those (50.0% = 5/10, 0% and 0%) in patients with palliative operation (P < 0.05), respectively. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate was 27.8% (five of 18) in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients and 16.7% (one of six) in segmental resection patients, and there was no significant difference between the above two procedures (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PD is suggested for the tumor located at the first and second portion of the duodenum, and SR may be appropriate for the selected patients, especially for tumors of the distal duodenum.