ABSTRACT
The current analysis was undertaken to determine the effect of Nd: YAG laser in treatment of different stages of periampullary tumours, whether benign or malignant. Patients, In a retrospective study of 26 patients with a histological diagnosis of primary periampullary adenocarcinoma [8 patients], metastatic adenocrcinoma into periampullary region [8 patients] and adenoma with or without dysplasia [10 patients] which were classified into 3 groups A, B and C respectively. All patients treated in two main hospitals in Glasgow between 1988 and 1998, with Nd: YAG laser with different number of sessions [1-8], without any major complications. Group A, treatment was successful in ablating and relieving symptoms in 5 patients but failed in 3 patients. Group B, Nd: YAG laser succeeded to relieve symptoms but not increase survival, [median survival time was 5 months]. Group C, Nd: YAG Laser succeeded in relieving symptoms in all ten patients and completely ablated the tumour in most of them 9/10, median survival time 60 months. Nd: YAG laser appears to be an effective treatment for benign and early malignant primary periampullary tumours as well as for the palliation of advanced malignant tumours with the main advantages it can be used in patients unfit for surgery and it is associated with less complications than other surgical procedures. Although these results are encouraging, the sample is relatively small and further follow up is required in order to recommend Nd: YAG laser photoablation as additive modalities for these patients