[Villous adenoma of Vater's papilla; a therapeutic dilemma]

After a cholecystectomy in 1980, local excision of a villous adenoma of the ampulla of Vater was performed in 1983 in a 69-year-old female; this had to be repeated in 1990 because of recurrence. In case of a tumour of this kind, pancreaticoduodenectomy should be considered because of the relatively high risk of recurrence or malignant degeneration. After a radical local excision regular duodenal endoscopy and if possible endoscopic ultrasonography should be performed.