A CLINICAL STUDY ON 81 CASES OF THE CARCINOMA OF THE EXTRAHEPATIC BILE DUCT

WITH SPECIAL REFFERENCE TO ERCP FINDINGS

Abstract

In the last 13 years, 201 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts were examined by Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The diagnosis of 81 patients were confirmed by surgery, and 19 patients underwent radical operation including 3 cases free from invasion to the outer layer of the wall of bile duct, so called early stage cancer. ERC findings were divided into six types based on the shape of the lesion. The resectable tumors were most frequent in patients with either clubshaped type 29.2% (7 of 24) or filling defect type 50.0% (2 of 4). The tumor of the early stage were less than 2.0 cm in diameter and 11 patients of the 16 cases with advanced cancer are larger than 2.0 cm in diameter (68.8%). Macroscopicaly, the tumor in the early stage appeared papillary type or tubular type, but in the advanced stage invasively. Only two patients had a long survival more than 5 years. One of them, with early cancer, is still alive at 7 years and 4 months after operation. ERCP findings of the carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct suggest the size of the tumor, macroscopic findings and possibility of the radical operation.