Case Report
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2006; 12(43): 7058-7060
Published online Nov 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i43.7058
Carcinoid of the ampulla of Vater: Morphologic features and clinical implications
George A Poultsides, Wayne AI Frederick
George A Poultsides, Wayne AI Frederick, Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT06030, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: George A Poultsides, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, United States. hhgpoul@ntplx.net
Telephone: +1-860-6791276
Received: December 27, 2005
Revised: February 9, 2006
Accepted: February 18, 2006
Published online: November 21, 2006
Abstract

Carcinoids involving the ampulla of Vater are rare lesions that may produce painless jaundice. The published data indicate that these tumors, in contrast to their midgut counterparts, metastasize in approximately half of cases irrespective of primary tumor size. Therefore, radical excision in the form of pancreaticoduodenectomy is recommended regardless of tumor size. As with other gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, biological treatment with octreotide analogues can be applied to symptomatic patients. Tumor-targeted radioactive therapy is a newly emerging treatment option. We here report case of a carcinoid tumor of the ampulla of Vater presenting as painless jaundice in a 65-year old man and review the relevant literature, giving special attention to the morphologic features, clinical characteristics, and treatment modalities associated with this disease process.

Keywords: Ampulla of Vater, Histopathologic features, Clinical characteristics, Radical excision