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Periampullary pancreatic carcinoma


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An adenocarcinoma inflitrating Papilla Vater

Of all the cases of pancreatic carcinoma 10 - 15 % is located in the papilla Vater region, in the periampullary region, in the ampulla itself or distally in the pancreatic duct. This type of cancer causes obstructive icterus quite early, and the tumor is often small when found, below 2 centimeters in diameter. Metastatic lesions are found in the surrounding lymph nodes in about two of five cases, compared with pancreatic cancer in other regions, where about 75 % of the patients have metastatic lesions in the lymph nodes and 50% in the liver, lungs or other organs. The periampullary carcinoma diagnose is often easily made by upper endoscopy. Of all pancreatic carcinomas, this type has the most favourable prognosis.