Rare histological subtype of invasive micropapillary carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater: A case report

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is an uncommon ampullo-pancreatobiliary neoplasm, and the most common histological type is adenocarcinoma with a tubular growth pattern. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) is an aggressive variant of adenocarcinoma in several organs that is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. IMPC was first described as a histological subtype of breast cancer; however, IMPC of the ampulla of Vater is extremely rare, with only three articles reported in the English literature. CASE SUMMARY: We have reported a case of IMPC of the ampulla of Vater in an 80-year-old man. Microscopically, the surface area of the carcinoma was composed of tubulopapillary structures mimicking intra-ampullary papillary-tubular neoplasm, and the deep invasive front area exhibited a pattern of IMPC. The carcinoma showed lymphatic invasion and extensive lymph node metastasis. The immunohistochemical study revealed mixed intestinal and gastric/pan-creatobiliary phenotypes. CONCLUSION: This rare subtype tumor in the ampulla of Vater showed a histologically mixed phenotype and exhibited aggressive behavior.