Previous studies of the descriptive epidemiology of biliary tract cancers have not differentiated among different types of biliary tract cancer because until recently the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) did not classify them separately. Recent ver sions of the ICD now distinguish cancers of the gallbladder, extrahepatic bile ducts, and ampulla of Vater. In order to describe more ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS In recent years, endoscopic snare papillectomy has been performed to treat tumors of the ampulla of Vater. This procedure requires accurate preoperative evaluation. In this study, we diagnosed the focal extension of such tumors by using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), and examined the indications for endoscopic snare papillectomy. METHO...

A 73-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of general fatigue and jaundice. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyltransferase. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass lesion at the ampulla of Vater with dilatation of the common bile duct and main pan...

The role of K-ras mutations in the progression of tumors of the ampulla of Vater is not well understood. To study the frequency and timing of K-ras mutations in ampullary tumors, areas of invasive carcinoma and adjacent adenomas were microdissected from paraffin blocks from 96 resected tumors. DNA was extracted, PCR amplification of K-ras exon 1 was performed, and PCR products were sequenced. S...

The role of K-ras mutations in the progression of tumors of the ampulla of Vater is not well understood. To study the frequency and timing of K-ras mutations in ampullary tumors, areas of invasive carcinoma and adjacent adenomas were microdissected from paraffin blocks from 96 resected tumors. DNA was extracted, PCR amplification of K-ras exon 1 was performed, and PCR products were sequenced. S...

Obstructive jaundice can have various causes, and both neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions have to be considered. In cases of malignant disease, the tumors are usually located in the extrahepatic bile ducts, the pancreatic head, or the ampulla of Vater [1]. In rare cases, the causative lesion originates from the duodenum [2,3]. A 67-year-old man presented with nonspecific right upper quadrant...

Adenocarcinoma arising from the ampulla of Vater is a rare disease and has limited data regarding outcome of chemotherapy. The ampulla of Vater is a heterogeneous junctional structure located at the union of the common bile duct, the pancreatic duct, and the small intestine. Thus, ampullary adenocarcinoma is classified as either intestinal type or pancreatobiliary type. We investigated the effi...

OBJECTIVES We explored the feasibility, difficulty, and indications for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy. METHODS Since November 11, 2002, we have successfully completed 5 laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomies. Patients included 4 males and 1 female, average age 43 years. Three patients had duodenal papillary cancer, one had cancer of the head of the pancreas, and one had pancreatic mixe...