ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY (EUS) IN ASSESSMENT OF SPREAD FROM EXTRAHEPATIC BILE DUCT CANCER

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed in 16 patients with cancer of the extrahepatic bile duct by the transduodenal balloon contact method. EUS pictures of the tumors were investigated and their expansion to the bile duct wall, the pancreas and the portal vein were compared with histological findings in 14 resected cases and with operative findings in 2 unresected cases. Moreover, accuracy rates of EUS for malignant spread were compared with those of computed tomography and angiography. From above ivestigations, extrahepatic bile duct cancers were generally presented as heterogenious, irregular, low echoic tumors by EUS and EUS was thought to be one of the most useful procedures in the diagnosis of the extension of extrahepatic bile duct cancer.