Can endoscopic papillectomy be curative for early ampullary adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater?

Background: The therapeutic role of endoscopic papillectomy (EP) for early ampullary cancer (AC) is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the curative potential of EP for early AC and to identify predictors of lymph node metastases (LNMs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 173 patients who were prospectively included in a database and who underwent EP between 1999 and 2013.

Percutaneous cytologic diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumors of pancreas in children.

Solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas, formerly known as Frantz tumors, are rare exocrine tumors that electively affect young women in their second and third decades of life, and are rarely observed in children. Histologic confirmation is nevertheless desirable before proceeding with treatment of pancreatic lesions, as appropriate treatment can range from conservative to ablative surgery. Here, we report 3 cases of solid pseudopapillary tumors of the pancreas and we postulate that percutaneous cytologic sample analysis (instead of biopsy) may be sufficient to reach an accurate diagnosis and eliminate differential diagnosis.