A Case Report of Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin for Locally Advanced Unresectable Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma

Introduction: Ampulla of Vater carcinoma (AVC) with para-aortic node (PAN) metastasis is considered unresectable and is equivalent to distant metastasis, contributing to poor outcomes. Case presentation: A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital and was diagnosed with an unresectable ampulla of Vater carcinoma that had metastasized to the para-aortic nodes. The patient received a systemic chemotherapy regimen comprising a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin. Following five cycles of treatment, imaging studies revealed a significant reduction in the primary tumor and para-aortic node metastasis, rendering detection difficult. Pancreatoduodenectomy with para-aortic node dissection was performed as a radical surgery. Upon pathological examination, no residual tumors were identified in the resected specimen, indicating that the systemic chemotherapy achieved a complete pathological response. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and he was discharged on the 25th postoperative day. The patient was followed up as an outpatient and remained stable without any recurrence for two months after surgery. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin was useful for downstaging the ampulla in patients with Vater carcinoma. This finding may help physicians manage patients with similar presentations.