Ampullary Carcinoma

Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for ampullary carcinoma. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may sometimes be considered. Treatment options are based on such factors as:

• Location and size of the tumor
• How far the cancer has spread
• Overall health of the patient
• Stage of the cancer

Surgery

Surgery offers the only chance of curing ampullary carcinoma. During surgery, physicians may also remove nearby lymph nodes (lymph node dissection) to determine if the disease has spread.

Ampullary polyps associated with noninvasive cancers can sometimes be removed during an endoscopy or an open operation. When a large polyp or invasive ampullary cancer is present, surgeons at Mayo Clinic may recommend a pancreatoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure).

Other Therapies

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are considered when the cancer cannot be surgically removed. They may also be recommended following surgery to decrease the chance of recurrence. Radiation and chemotherapy may be used when patients have health problems that prevent major surgery or in patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body.