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The Contribution of the Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Ampullary Tumors

Maryeme Kadiri1, Mouna Salihoun1, Mohammed Acharki1, Kaoutar Znati2, Nawal Kabbaj1

1 Department of Gastroenterology “EFD-HGE”, Hospital Ibn Sina Rabat, Morocco;
2 Anatomopathology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat.

Conflict-of-interest statement: The author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http: //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Correspondence to: Maryeme Kadiri, Department of Gastroenterology “EFD-HGE”, Hospital Ibn Sina Rabat, Morocco.
Email: maryeme.kadiri@gmail.com
Telephone: +81-92-938-2717

Received: May 6, 2021
Revised: May 23, 2021
Accepted: May 25, 2021
Published online: June 21, 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The ampullary region is the region of the small intestine that presents the highest frequency of neoplastic transformation and malignancy. Endoscopic ultrasound is nowadays the best tool to examine the papilla and to perform the assessment of locoregional extension of ampullary and peri-ampullary tumors. It also makes it possible to establish the TNM classification with greater sensitivity than other imaging techniques. The aim of this work is to describe the interest of echo endoscopy in ampullary tumors.

Methods Data: A 15-month restrospective study (August 2019-November 2020) during which 10 patients were enrolled. We evaluated papilla appearance, tumor parietal staging, associated lesions and the histological results.

Results: From August 2019 to November 2020, 10 patients with ampullary tumors were defined. 60% of an enlarged tumor papilla (n = 6), 20% an hypoechoic and homogenous thickening of the papilla, without invasion of the duodenal wall (n = 2), papilla was normal in 20% (n = 2). 3 patients (30%) had a dilated CBD (common bile duct) with a choledocolithiasis, 5 (50%) patients had a gallblader stones. However, EUS revealed an isolated gallstone impaction at the ampulla of Vater in 2 patient (20%) without tumor. 8 patients (80%) underwent a 19G or 22G fine needle aspiration (FNA): Histopathological examination revealed 3 (37%) adenoma with low grade dysplasia, 3 (37%) invasive carcinoma and 2 papillitis (25%). By EUS, 3 (50% ) ampullary lesions were staged as uT2, 2 (33 %) as T1sm, and 1 (16 %) as T3.

Conclusion: EUS-FNA for ampulla of Vater may be safely and accurately performed, and should be considered as a diagnostic modality before EST(endoscopic sphincterotomy). Exclusion of benign findings like choledocholithiasis or chronic pancreatitis is also important.

Key words: Ampulla of Vater; Endoscopic ultrasound; Fine needle aspiration; Staging

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by ACT Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kadiri M, Salihoun M, Acharki M, Znati K, Kabbaj N. The contribution of the Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) in Ampullary Tumors. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research 2021; 10(3): 3516-3519 Available from: URL: http://www.ghrnet.org/index.php/joghr/article/view/3172

INTROUDUCTION

Tumors of the ampulla of Vater are uncommon. Ampullary tumors are a subset of periampullary lesions, which additionally comprise of distal cholangiocarcinoma, duodenal tumors and pancreatic head tumors. An ampullary lesion is identified by distinct invasion of the ampulla of Vater with distortion of the anatomy, based on the endoscopic appearance. They may be either malignant or benign lesions. Malignant tumors tend to be adenocarcinomas. Males are affected by this disease more often than females, in the ratio of 2: 1[1,2].

Ampullary tumors may present with signs and symptoms of obstructive jaundice or pancreatitis. They may be incidentally found during routine upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in an asymptomatic patient as well. Ampullary tumors carry a good prognosis when they are localized. Transduodenal ampullectomy can be performed for an early T1 staged tumor[3,4].

Ampullary neoplasms that are localized to the ampulla, without submucosal or ductal invasion and are small, are amenable to endoscopic resection[1,2,5,6]. This is because lymphatic involvement, lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion are absent in patients when the disease is limited to the duodenal mucosa[7]. Tumors which are unresectable endoscopically, such as those seen to have intraductal extension or invasion of the muscularis propria and beyond, can be treated by surgery. Hence, accurate staging is crucial to determine the type of resection and the resectablility of the tumor.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides relevant information when an ampullary or periampullary tumor is suspected. Early detection, T and N staging and Fine Needle Aspiration plus cythological confirmation, are some of the expected benefits. Exclusion of benign findings like choledocholithiasis or chronic pancreatitis is also important.

Radial and lineal EUS images are uniquely detailed and, at the moment, it seems to be the best way to exclude or confirm malignant or benign findings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the EUS in the ampullary tumors and to compare the performance characteristics of EUS in the local and regional staging of these tumors with the gold standard, HP staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study which 10 patients were included. These patients were identified from our EUS records.

The study period extended from August 2019 to november 2020 and during this period, Diagnosis was performed using linear and/or radial EUS after having undergone an upper GI endoscopy or with papillary biopsies and/or with the use of 19G or 22G fine needle aspiration (FNA).

The decision to use either the radial or curvi linear array EUS was made by the performing doctor.

We evaluated the appearance of the papilla, tumour parietal staging, associated lesions we founded, and the histological results.

EUS and histopathological staging

EUS staging was estimated as follows: uT1 = tumor without invasion of the muscularis propria (MP) of the duodenum; uT2 = invasion of the MP without invasion of the pancreas; uT3 = invasion of pancreas; uN- = no suspicious lymph nodes; uN+ suspicious lymph nodes. Finally, intraductal pancreatic and/or common bile duct (CBD) growths were estimated. Only uT1N- tumors without intraductal growth were included. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) was optional. IDUS staging was considered as follows: uTm = tumor without invasion of the duodenal submucosae; uTsm = tumor with invasion of the duodenal submucosae.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics

The mean age of our patients was 59 (±10) years with 6 male (60%) and 4 female (40%).

The clinical signs was dominated by obstructive jaundice in 6 patients (60%), anicteric cholestasis in 3 patients (30%), 1 patient had an acute pancreatitis (10%).

The EUS indications were suspicion of ampulloma on MRCP in 6 patients (60%), discovery of ampullary tumor of uncertain diagnosis while performing duodenoscopy before the ERCP in 3 patients (30%), and during staging of a certain ampullary tumour in 1 patient (10%).

EUS revealed 6 enlarged tumor papilla (60%), 2 hypoechoic and homogenous thickening of the papilla (20%) without invasion of the duodenal wall (n = 2), 2 papilla was normal (20%).

3 patients (30%) had a dilated CBD (comon bile duct) with a choledocolithiasis, 5(50%) patients had a gallblader stones. However, EUS revealed a gallstone impaction at the ampulla of Vater in 2 patient (20%) without any ampullary tumors.

8 patients (80%) underwent a 19G or 22G fine needle aspiration (FNA): Histopathological examination revealed 3(37%) adenoma with low grade dysplasia, 3(37%) invasive carcinoma and 2 papillitis (25%).

By EUS, 3(50% %) ampullary lesions were staged as uT2, 2(33 %) as T1sm, and 1 (16 %) as T3.

Results of diagnosis by biopsy and EUS-FNA (Figure 1)

Based on surface biopsy, only 1 patient was suspected to have malignancy; however, EUS-FNA found no malignancy in this patient, and the final diagnosis was papillitis. Among the remaining 8 patients diagnosed with no malignancies based on surface biopsy, 4 patients were diagnosed with adenoma with LGD by EUS-FNA. The remaining 3 patients, in whom malignancies could not be diagnosed based on surface biopsy, were finally diagnosed with adenocarcinoma by EUS-FNA followed by surgical resection (Figure 1).

Surface biopsies led to a false-positive result for 1 patient and false-negative results for 7 patients. On the other hand, results of EUS-FNA showed no false-positives or false negatives.

No complications were associated with EUS-FNA and intraampullary biopsy.

Figure 1 Shows results of diagnosis by biopsy and/or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration following identification of suspected ampullary tumors. * Low grade Dysplasia.

Figure 2 Geant ampullary adenoma endoscopic ampullectomy.

Figure 3 Ampullary tumor staged as uT2.

DISCUSSION

Ampullary tumors are unique from other periampullary tumors, such as distal cholangiocarcinoma and head of pancreatic cancers, because they may be endoscopically resectable. Hence, accurate staging of tumor and nodal status are vital in determining if patients are suitable for ampullectomy.

Early research indicated that T1 lesions and/or lesions extending beyond the mucosa require surgical intervention[8].

More recent data have shown EA (endoscopic ampullectomy) to be an appropriate intervention when there is no infiltration further than 4 mm, or if the mass was less than 2.5 cm[9,10]. Furthermore, the negative predictive value of EUS for muscularis invasion has been shown to be 90%[11]. EUS accurately identifies local staging of ampullary lesions and has been accepted as the best modality for evaluating ampullary lesions[12]. However, EUS is unable to search for distant metastasis and distant lymph nodes due to the limited extent of examination[13].

Thus, EUS is an effective tool in identifying ampullary lesions amenable to endoscopic intervention by virtue of its high sensitivity in identifying cases needing surgery.

Our study clarify the benefits for patients who could not be diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy, and revealed the benefits of EUS-FNA for such lesions.

In the present study, adequate tissue samples were obtained by EUS-FNA for 8 patients with intraampullary lesions of the papilla of Vater. Furthermore, no complications were observed.

However, it has the possibility that carcinoma could be missed by both techniques. Although the gold standard treatment may be surgery, it is also an undeniable fact that this procedure is greatly invasive for patients. Therefore, if results of EUS-FNA or ampullary biopsy were not malignant, it may be an option to carefully perform clinical follow-up with repeated EUS-FNA and intraampullary biopsy.

Several limitations must be considered when the results of this investigation are interpreted. First, since the intraampullary carcinoma is a relatively rare tumor, the study included a small number of cases. Second, the design was retrospective with information only from a single tertiary center. A large-scale study is thus needed to confirm the clinical impact of EUS-FNA for lesions of the ampulla of Vater, particularly in terms of intra-ampullary lesions.

EUS in benign pathology

EUS provides endoscopic information, with the visualization of the papilla and its surroundings, and the eventual performance of a biopsy with forceps. A half-open pore can be indicative of the migration of a stone. The intradiverticular location of a papilla can be the only cause that explains a bile duct dilatation. The presence of lithiasis will guide the procedure to ward a therapeutic ERCP. It is a simple diagnosis for EUS with a better outcome than MRI when the bile duct is not dilated, when the stones are smaller than 3 mm, or when the stones are impacted[14]. We should bear in mind the association of lithiasis in obstructed bile ducts, which can be as high as 25%. EUS is of great value in differential diagnosis with other benign pathologies in addition to lithiasis, such as chronic pancreatitis, the presence of a periampullary diverticulum, choledochocele or pancreas divisum. In our study, EUS revealed a gallstone impaction at the ampulla of Vater in 2 patient (20%) without any tumor.

Conclusion

Echo-endoscopy (EE) is the most effective examination for suggesting an ampullary tumour when endoscopy prove wrong. It’s the best tool to examine the papilla and to perform the assessment of locoregional extension of ampullary and peri-ampullary tumors. However, The limit are noticeable: an abnormality of the ampulla of vater is not specific to a tumour and also, a Gall stone  impaction of the common bile duct  at the ampulla of Vater is not uncommon and can be confused with an ampullary tumour.

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