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.