Prognosis was correlated with the size of tumor at the time of surgery and immunophenotype pattern. The tumors with high expression of nervous antigens had a worse prognosis. To date, malignant duodenal tumours have remained obscure subject-matter although they were first described in the eighteenth century. Recent development in technology and in anatomohistopathology makes it necessary to review the duodenal tumours classification, especially in relation to the progressive development of stromal and neuroendocrine forms. In the literature, precise epidemiological data are not reported and, as regards some duodenal tumours, simply do not exist.
Series are generally either surgical, anatomopathological or gastroenterological.
Hospital centres need to establish a collaboration which gathers new observed cases to avoid the dispersion of case series. Thus, a European Register will be established to report the real incidence by analyzing the specific differential elements. Tubulovillous adenoma of the duodenum have a high potential for malignant transformation. An exact preoperative staging and an accurate histological examination are essential in order to choose a proper therapeutic strategy. We report on difficulties in the diagnostic and therapeutic process of a patient with a tubulovillous, juxtapapillary, duodenal adenoma.