NUMBER OF LYMPH-NODE METASTASES IS SIGNIFICANTLY ASSOCIATED WITH SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH RADICALLY RESECTED CARCINOMA OF THE AMPULLA OF VATER

Between 1983 and 1994, 66 patients with cancer of the ampulla of Vater were studied to identify prognostic factors and determine who might b enefit from radical resection. Three patients (4.5 per cent) died afte r operation. Radical resection including lymphadenectomy resulted in p otentially curative (R(0)) resection in 92 per cent. The rate of nodal positivity increased with tumour diameter. Patients with up to two po sitive lymph nodes had a more favourable prognosis than other patients (P < 0.001). Median survival time for all patients was 41 months; the 5-year survival rate was 35 per cent. Radical resection and lymphaden ectomy should therefore be the treatment of choice for patients with t umours of the ampulla of Vater.