Efficacy and Safety of Endoscopic Treatment for Nonampullary Sporadic Duodenal Adenomas

Nonampullary sporadic duodenal adenomas (NSDAs) are uncommon mucosal neoplasms with malignant potential. Recently, endoscopic treatment is used for NSDA with increasing frequency.

This study therefore aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment for NSDA.

A total of 36 NSDAs in 35 consecutive patients were endoscopically eradicated at Samsung Medical Center between October 1994 and May 2011. Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and endoscopic treatment outcomes were obtained and retrospectively analyzed.

Of all patients, 19 (52.8 %) were male. The mean age was 56.0 ± 12.2 (SD) years. Of the 36 NSDAs, 23 lesions were removed by endoscopic resection (ER) including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR, n = 20) and snare polypectomy (n = 3). In the 23 cases treated with ER, en bloc resection was achieved in 20 (87.0 %). All cases undergoing en bloc resection showed tumor-free resection margins. Thirteen lesions were ablated by argon plasma coagulation (APC). During EMR, bleeding occurred in two cases and perforation occurred in one case. One patient bled during APC. All complications were successfully managed with endoscopic treatment without surgical intervention. During a median follow-up period of 11.4 months (range, 1.8–182.4 months), local recurrence occurred in one patient treated with APC (1/10, 10.0 %). Among patients undergoing ER, no local recurrence occurred but one patient treated with EMR experienced metachronous recurrence.

Endoscopic treatment, including EMR, snare polypectomy, and APC, was an effective and safe treatment for NSDA. Further multi-center large prospective studies are warranted to establish appropriate treatment guidelines for NSDA.