Primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum: management and survival in 67 patients

Because of the rarity of primary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum, accumulation of natural history data has been difficult. As a result, debate continues over important treatment issues.

We did a retrospective review of 67 patients with nonampullary adenocarcinoma of the duodenum treated at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1967 and 1991. Presenting symptoms and signs, diagnostic studies, operation performed, surgical pathology, and survival were analyzed.

A primary duodenal tumor was demonstrated by upper gastrointestinal radiographs (UGI) in 37 of 42 patients (88%), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in 49 of 55 (89%), and computerized tomograms (CT) in 21 of 42 (50%). A curative resection was performed in 36 of the 59 patients who underwent operation (61%); 27 had pancreaticoduodenectomies and nine had wide local excisions. Overall 5-year survival was 29%. The 5-year survival difference between resected and unresected patients was 54% versus 0%, respectively (p < 0.0001). No survival difference was noted between patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy rather than wide local excision. Lymph node metastases were significantly related to the occurrence of distant metastases (p = 0.0034). The 5-year survival for patients with stage I or II tumors was 100% and 52%, respectively, compared to 45% and 0% for stage III and IV (p < 0.0001).

Our data suggest that UGI and EGD are effective for diagnosing duodenal carcinoma. Survival is improved by curative resection and is not compromised by a wide local excision instead of a pancreaticoduodenectomy for lesions of the third and fourth portion. We recommend that adjuvant chemotherapy be considered for stage III disease, because distant failure is the predominant pattern of failure in this group.