1987 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 87-94
We performed cytodiagnosis of pancreatic juice, bile and duodenal juice in 232 cases of malignancies arising in the pancreas and biliary tract during the past ten years, to evaluate the diagnostic value of cytologic examination. In the cytology of duodenal juice obtained by pancreozymin or caerulein-secretin test, malignant cells were identified in 17 of 72 patients (24%) with cancer of the pancreas, two of 13 patients (15%) with cancer of the bile ducts, none of seven patients (0%) with cancer of the gallbladder and four of ten patients (40%) with cancer of the ampulla of Vater. In the cytology of pancreatic juice or bile obtained by endoscopic duct aspiration, malignant cells were identified in 17 of 38 patients (45%) with cancer of the pancreas, four of 11 patients (36%) with cancer of the bile ducts, one of three patients (33%) with cancer of the gallbladder and all of three patients (100%) with cancer of the ampulla of Vater. In the cytology of bile obtained by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage, malignant cells were identified in 17 of 47 patients (36%) with cancer of the pancreas, 32 of 58 patients (55%) with cancer of the bile ducts, nine of 20 patients (45%) with cancer of the gallbladder, three of 13 patients (23%) with cancer of the ampulla of Vater and two of six patients (33%) with cancer metastasized or invaded to the bile ducts. Positive rates of cytodiagnosis varied from 0 to 100% depending on the site of cancer. However, malignant cells were frequently found in patients who were subject to operative cure. Therefore, Therefore, the cytology of pancreatic juice, bile and duodenal juice was proved to be useful for early detection of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer.
