High prevalence of adenomas and microadenomas of the duodenal papilla and periampullary region in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

Abstract

This study confirms that the duodenal papilla and periampullary region are sites with high prevalence of macro- and microscopic adenomas in patients with FAP. However, our data do not seem to support a higher frequency and malignancy potential of such lesions as compared to polyps in the rest of the duodenum. Nevertheless, these findings warrant a periodic, careful examination of the duodenum with either end-viewing or side-viewing endoscopy, the need for random biopsies of the papilla and periampullary region and the removal of any larger or rapidly growing lesions detected.