Ampullectomy for adenoma of the papilla and ampulla of Vater

The frequency of malignant adenomas of the papilla figures between 15 and 30%. Villous adenoma is considered to be a premalignant lesion.

Resection of the papilla is indicated in large tubular and small tubulovillous adenoma. Ampullectomy, however, is mandatory in villous adenoma with severe dysplasia and large villous or tubulovillous adenoma. If villous adenoma with a low-risk pT1 N0 M0 G1/2-cancer is treated by ampullectomy, local lymph dissection should also be performed. Ampullectomy includes extirpation of the ampulla of Vater and reinsertion of the common bile duct and the pancreatic main duct into the duodenal wall.

Hospital mortality after ampullectomy is less than 0.4%, and surgical morbidity, e.g., cholangitis, below 10%.