Adenocarcinoma of the Ampulla of Vater: A Case Report on a Rare Condition

Abstract

An ampullary carcinoma (AC) is defined as cancer that arises in the ampulla of Vater (AV). It is a tiny opening in the beginning segment of the small intestine called the duodenum. Pancreatic and bile duct fluids are pumped into the intestines via the AV. There are various factors listed as the causes of AC. A 45year-old male presented to the emergency department with complaints of pain in the abdomen for two months, vomiting for two days, and a history of fever for four days, which was persistent in nature. He had been operated on for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) stenting two months back due to pain in the abdomen. The patient underwent investigations such as blood tests, histopathology, ultrasonography, abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and ampullary mass biopsy, based on which a final diagnosis was made. The patient was operated on by the Whipple surgical procedure and was later treated with antibiotics and analgesics. Surgical management for AC is a novel treatment chosen instead of chemotherapy. Although early-stage AC can be cured with radical surgery, around half of the patients experience tumor recurrence. The prognosis of our patient was good.