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Variant anatomy of the biliary system as a cause of pancreatic and peri-ampullary cancers. HPB (Oxford) 2020 Dec;22(12):1675-1685

Date

04/28/2020

Pubmed ID

32336556

DOI

10.1016/j.hpb.2020.03.014

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85083637358 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The cause of most pancreatic and periampullary cancers (PAC) is unknown. Recently, anatomic variations such as pancreatobiliary maljunction have been recognized as risk factors, similar to Barrett-related gastro-esophageal cancers.

METHODS: Pre-operative MRI from 860 pancreatic/biliary resections, including 322 PACs, were evaluated for low-union (cystic duct joining the common hepatic duct inside of the pancreas or within 5 mm of the pancreatic border) RESULTS: Low-union, seen <10% of the population, was present in 44% of PACs (73% distal bile duct/cholangiocarcinoma, 42% pancreatic head, and 34% ampullary). It was significantly lower(11%) in conditions without connection to the ductal system (thus not exposed to the ductal/biliary tract contents), namely mucinous cystic neoplasms and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas(p < 0.0001). Intra-pancreatic type low-union was seen in 16% of PACs versus 2% of controls(p < 0.0001).

DISCUSSION: This study establishes an association between low-union and PACs, and points to an anatomy-induced chemical/bilious carcinogenesis. This may explain why most pancreas cancers are in the head. It is possible that the same chemical milieu, caused by conditions other than low-union/insertion, may also play a role in the remaining half of PACs. This opens various treatment opportunities including milieu modifications (chemoprevention), focused screening of at-risk patients, and early detection with possible corrective actions.

Author List

Muraki T, Reid MD, Pehlivanoglu B, Gonzalez RS, Sekhar A, Memis B, Xue Y, Cheng J, Jang KT, Mittal P, Cardona K, Kooby DA, Maithel S, Sarmiento JM, El-Rayes B, Lomberk G, Urrutia RA, Christians K, Tsai S, Evans DB, Adsay V

Authors

Kathleen K. Christians MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Douglas B. Evans MD Chair, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Gwen Lomberk PhD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Raul A. Urrutia MD Center Director, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Ampulla of Vater
Bile Duct Neoplasms
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
Common Bile Duct Neoplasms
Duodenal Neoplasms
Humans
Pancreatic Neoplasms