[Nephrotic syndrome associated with ampulloma]

A patient is reported who presented simultaneously classic nephrotic syndrome and adenocarcinoma of the Vater ampulla. Morphological study of the renal biopsy revealed changes characteristic of membranous glomerulonephritis and subepithelial deposits. These deposits stained specifically for IgG and C'3 with a granular pattern, but deposits of CEA-antiCEA immune complexes were not found in glomerular capillaries. The association of nephrotic syndrome with lymphoproliferative diseases and a large variety of solid tumors, like carcinoma of the breast, bronchogenic, colon and stomach has been communicated, but the present case constitutes the first known association with adenocarcinoma of the Vater ampulla.