Adenocarcinoma of the major duodenal papilla: A case report

Periampular tumors (PT) originate from structures close to Vater's Ampulla and correspond to a heterogeneous group of cancers. The adenocarcinoma of the major duodenal papilla is part of this group of cancers. The main manifestations are obstructive jaundice, pruritus, choluria, fecal acholia, weight loss and abdominal pain, associated with elevated serum levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes. The prognosis is poor, with pancreaticobiliar type carcinomas having the worst prognosis. Endoscopic ultrasound is the most sensitive method for diagnosis and staging, and the best treatment is pancreaticoduodenectomy, known as Whipple surgery, often associated with adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy. The article proposes to describe a case of adenocarcinoma of the Vater's ampulla in a 38-year-old patient treated at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF), covering from the initial symptoms, the diagnostic process and the therapeutic conduct. Its relevance is to alert health professionals about the importance of listing periampular tumors among the possible differential diagnoses for patients with cholestatic syndrome, considering that the diagnosis and early surgical resection are decisive factors for a better prognosis. (author)