[Changes in the value of papilla excision in papilla cancer. A retrospective study].

A retrospective analysis of 56 patients with a carcinoma of Vater's ampulla in the years 1956-1983 demonstrated a steadily increasing resection index of duodenopancreatectomy from 34% (1961-1965) to 86% (1981-1983), although the rate of mortality was 0% since 1975. The reason for the increasing resection index was the treatment of all patients since 1975 by only one team of operators and the improvement of peri- and postoperative medicine treatment. Thus it was possible to perform a duodenopancreatectomy without operative mortality even in patients in the 8th decade of life. Therefore an indication for a local excision of the ampulla no longer seems to be justified.