Tumors of the major duodenal papilla

A wide variety of tumors arise at the major duodenal papilla. The special significance of these lesions is that they represent a less serious prognosis for patients compared with that for other peripapillary neoplasms. 1 Braasch JW. Peripapillary and pancreatic cancer. in: Surgery of the liver and biliary tract. Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh1988: 855-861 Google Scholar However, cure depends on correct diagnosis at an early stage. Endoscopy is the most valuable of the available imaging methods because it provides not only direct visualization of the lesion but often a tissue diagnosis as well. Moreover, because the major duodenal papilla is encountered during routine upper endoscopy, albeit only partially seen in most cases, it is important to recognize and understand the characteristic endoscopic findings of papillary tumors. In addition, endoscopy now plays an important role in the treatment of these tumors.