Ampullary adenocarcinoma - differentiation matters

Peter Schirmacher; Markus W Büchler

doi:10.1186/1471-2407-8-251

Ampullary adenocarcinoma - differentiation matters

BMC Cancer. 2008 Sep 1:8:251. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-8-251.

Authors

Peter Schirmacher¹, Markus W Büchler

Affiliation

¹ Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Peter.Schirmacher@med.uni-heidelberg.de

Abstract

The periampullary region gives rise to two main subtypes of adenocarcinoma that show either pancreatobiliary or intestinal differentiation. New data demonstrates that the histological subtype - more so than the anatomical location - is an important independent prognostic factor. This fuels the discussion about maintaining ampullary cancer as a separate entity.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Adenocarcinoma / classification
Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
Adenocarcinoma / pathology
Ampulla of Vater / pathology*
Biomarkers, Tumor
Cell Differentiation
Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / classification
Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology
Diagnosis, Differential
Epithelium / pathology
Humans
Medical Oncology / methods
Prognosis

Substances

Biomarkers, Tumor