Like any other cancer, the basic cause of ampullary adenocarcinoma is the mutation of cells that cause excessive and unnecessary division and duplication. The ultimate cause of ampullary adenocarcinoma in unknown, but there are several growing lines of thought about its cause. The most likely of these involves the idea that ampullary adenocarcinoma might be influenced by familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
Ampullary Adenocarcinoma Defined
Ampullary adenocarcinoma is a rare cancer; about 5,000 people are diagnosed with it each year in the United States. It's located in a tiny muscle named the ampulla of Vater, which rests where the common bile duct and the small intestine meet. An ampullary adenocarcinoma (cancer tumor) has the potential to block bile secretions as it grows. The obstruction can hinder the flow of bile from the liver and the pancreas to the duodenal (small intestine), where it would otherwise normally pass out of the body. Its proximity to and functional relationship with the intestines and the colon make it more susceptible to FAP influence.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
FAP)is an inherited disorder that results in anywhere from hundreds to thousands of polyp formations within the colon. When left unchecked, an individual with this disorder should expect a diagnosis of colon cancer between the ages of 35 and 40, in addition to other medical conditions.
It is highly likely that the condition of FAP also leads to other cancerous growths within the digestive tract, especially in the intestines. That, in fact, could be one of the causes of ampullary adenocarcinoma.
Relation Between Ampullary Adenocarcinoma and FAP
Having a diagnosis of FAP predisposes individuals to cancer in the colon as well as fibrous tumors. These tumors have a mortality rate between 10 percent and 50 percent, and are usually located in the intestinal area. FAP can also predispose individuals to cancer in the ampullary as well as the intestines.
FAP has been shown to cause adenocarcinoma of the duodenum (small intestine). Thus it is not surprising that having FAP can be a risk factor for developing ampullary adenocarcinoma as well as other digestive cancers.
Role of Heredity in Ampullary Adenocarcinoma's and FAP
A staggering 75 percent to 80 percent of individuals who have been diagnosed with FAP have family histories of either colorectal cancer, polyps or both by the age of 40. In a case involving a 37-year-old woman mistakenly thought to have ampullary adenocarcinoma, the John Hopkins University School of Medicine was able to provide additional evidence that supports the role of heredity in FAP. They were also able to illuminate the fine line that divides these two conditions when medical personnel seek to diagnose based on symptoms and a limited personal or family medical history.
John Hopkins Case Study
In the study, medical professionals arrived at the diagnosis of ampullary adenocarinoma because of an incomplete family medical history. Initially, they were told that the 37-year-old woman's maternal aunt had died as a result of abdominal cancer at the age of 57. In addition, the woman's 74-year-old mother had been diagnosed with seven adenomatous polyps around aged age 70. But it was later learned that the mother had over 100 polyps, and an extensive family history of colorectal cancer had existed.
Tags: ampullary adenocarcinoma, diagnosed with, small intestine, 37-year-old woman, ampullary adenocarcinoma, Ampullary Adenocarcinoma