Impact of technical modification of endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary neoplasm on the occurrence of complications.

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of a modified technique of endoscopic papillectomy (EP) for lessening the occurrence of complications.

METHODS

Indications for EP were adenoma or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma confined to the papilla of Vater (T1) without tumor spread into the bile/pancreatic duct. Sixteen patients underwent the modified technique, which consists of resection with the Endocut mode, followed by biliary/pancreatic sphincterotomy and stenting (Group A). Twelve patients who had undergone EP, using a cutting current, followed by pancreatic duct stenting were included as control (Group B). The frequency of complications and clinical outcomes were retrospectively compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients had adenoma, and 12 had adenocarcinoma. Early complications occurred in 36% of all patients (hemorrhage, 7; cholangitis, 3; perforation, 2; cholecystitis, 1). The frequency of early complications in Group A was significantly lower than that in Group B (6% vs 75%, odds ratio [OR] 0.022, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0020-0.25). Late complications occurred in 18% of the patients (bile duct stone, 3; hemorrhage, 1; pancreatitis, 1). There was no significant difference in the late complication rate between Group A and Group B (19% vs 17%). Local recurrences were found in 14% of the patients, without a significant difference between Group A and Group B (19% vs 8%) during a mean follow-up period. All recurrent tumors were successfully treated with argon plasma coagulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified technique of EP for ampullary neoplasm contributed to lessening the occurrence of early complications. However, further refinement of this technique is necessary for improving the clinical outcome.