Treatment of ampullary neuroendocrine tumor by endoscopic snare papillectomy
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Updated: May 6, 2026

Endoscopic Endonasal Trans-sphenoidal Approach: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas
Published on: January 17, 2018
Mehmet Odabasi1, Kamil Mehmet Yildiz, Eris Cengiz
1Department of Surgery, Haydarpasa Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul,Turkey.
Patient:
Female, 45 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Neuroendocrine tumor Symptoms: Abdominal pain Medication: - Clinical Procedure: - Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Objective:
Unusual setting of medical care.
Background:
Neuroendocrine tumor of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare and is generally a low-grade endocrine cell tumor. The merits of radical vs. local resection remain uncertain.
Case Report:
A 45-year-old female patient presented with abdominal pain lasting for 2 months. Papilla that was tumor-like macroscopically was seen in the second part of the duodenum in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Biopsy was histologically confirmed as a low-grade neuroendocrine tumor. No lymphadenopathy or visceral metastasis was found on an abdominal CT scan, In-111 octreotide scan, and EUS. The ampulla was removed by endoscopic snare papillectomy. All margins of resection were negative for tumor.
Conclusions:
Endoscopic snare papillectomy may be the first step in the management of neuroendocrine tumors of the ampulla of Vater in high-risk surgical candidates and selected patients such as those with a well differentiated, low-grade, small tumor without regional/ distant metastasis. However, it can also be used in younger patients who wish to avoid surgical resection.
